cuneiform
UK: ˈkjuːnɪfɔːm | US: ˈkjuːniəfɔːrm
adj. shaped like a wedge; relating to wedge-shaped writing
n. an ancient writing system using wedge-shaped characters, notably used in Mesopotamia
The term cuneiform originates from the Latin cuneus (wedge) + forma (shape), coined in the 18th century to describe the wedge-shaped marks pressed into clay tablets by ancient Mesopotamian scribes. The word reflects the physical appearance of the script, which evolved from pictographs to abstract wedge patterns. Its logic is straightforward: "wedge-shaped writing," capturing both the tool (a wedge) and the resulting form.
The cuneiform script was used for over 3,000 years in ancient Mesopotamia.
Archaeologists deciphered cuneiform tablets to understand Sumerian laws.
The stylus left distinct cuneiform impressions on wet clay.
Cuneiform inscriptions often recorded trade transactions.
Learning to read cuneiform requires studying thousands of unique signs.