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Glite Dictionary
2️⃣ Two-lettered 2️⃣ Two-letter sign
biliteral

biliteral

9.9
A written sign that stands for two letters or two sounds in ancient scripts
  • noun
  • /ˌbɪlɪˈtɛrəl/
  • Specialized
: biliteral
  • In ancient Egyptian writing, a biliteral could stand for two consonant sounds together.

Examples

  • Researchers identified a rare biliteral among the hieroglyphic inscriptions in the tomb.

  • A biliteral represents two letters.

  • The scribe carefully carved a biliteral into the stone tablet to represent the word's root.

  • The biliteral signs are fascinating!

  • In ancient Egyptian writing, a biliteral signifies two consonant sounds represented together.

  • The scribe expertly carved a biliteral into the stone tablet to depict the word's root.

  • Researchers uncovered a unique biliteral in the hieroglyphic inscriptions found inside the tomb.

Surface Forms

biliteral singular
biliterals plural

Morphology

biliteral = literal (semi-transparent) = bi + literal

Construction bi- + literal is morphologically regular, but the specialized sense 'a sign representing two letters' is technical and not obvious from everyday meaning of 'literal'.

Etymology

Biliteral comes from the Latin parts bi- 'two' and littera 'letter', like the bi- in bicycle. So a biliteral as a sign stands for two letters or two sounds in old writing.