hieroglyphic (hy-uhr-o-GLIF-ik, hy-ruh-) also hieroglyphical adjective 1. Of, relating to, or being a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound. Written with such symbols. 2. Difficult to read or decipher. hieroglyphic noun 1. A hieroglyph. Often hieroglyphics (used with a sing. or pl. verb. Hieroglyphic writing, especially that of the ancient Egyptians). 2. Something, such as illegible or undecipherable writing, that is felt to resemble a hieroglyph. [French hieroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hierogluphikos : hieros, holy. See eis-. + gluphe, carving (from gluphein, to carve.] "The fascination with hieroglyphics, with emblems and impresas, or `pictures without words,' as Ernst Robert Curtius tells us, has continually occupied the minds of Western humanists since the beginning of the fifteenth century. " Zhang Longxi, What is 'wen' and why is it made so terribly strange?., Vol. 23, College Literature, 02-01-1996, pp 15(21). This week's theme: words about symbols. ........................................................................... Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Send your comments about words to [email protected]. To subscribe or unsubscribe A.Word.A.Day, send a message to [email protected] with "Subject:" line as "subscribe <Your Name>" or "unsubscribe". Archives, FAQ, gift subscription form, and more at: http://www.wordsmith.org/awad/