hieroglyphic
1. hi.ero.glyph.ic \.hi--(*-)r*-'glif-ik\ \-i-k(*-)le-\ aj [MF hieroglyphique, fr. LL hieroglyphicus, fr. Gk hieroglyphikos], fr. hier- + glyphein to carve - more at CLEAVE 1: written in, constituting, or belonging to a system of writing mainly in pictorial characters 2: inscribed with hieroglyphic 3: resembling hieroglyphic in difficulty of decipherment - hi.ero.glyph.i.cal aj 2. hieroglyphic n 1: HIEROGLYPH 2: a system of hieroglyphic writing; specif : the picture script of the ancient Egyptian priesthood - often used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr. 3: characters that resemble a hieroglyphic esp. in difficulty of decipherme nt
Webster's English Dictionary