cuneiform
cuneiform — 形容詞
- cuneiformpositive
- more cuneiformcomparative
- most cuneiformsuperlative
1. relating to an ancient system of writing that uses wedge-shaped marks pressed in
楔形文字的
古代楔形文字的
relating to an ancient system of writing that uses wedge-shaped marks pressed into soft clay, developed in Mesopotamia and used throughout the Middle East for over three thousand years.
Dr. Okafor showed the class a clay tablet covered in cuneiform symbols.
Okafor 博士向全班展示了一塊刻滿楔形文字符號的泥板。
collocation: cuneiform symbols / cuneiform script
The museum's new exhibit displays cuneiform inscriptions from ancient Mesopotamia.
博物館的新展覽展出了來自古代美索不達米亞的楔形文字銘文。
Chen Wei spent months learning to read cuneiform texts at the university library.
陳偉花了幾個月的時間，在大學圖書館學習閱讀楔形文字文本。
The archaeologist brushed dust off a cuneiform tablet over four thousand years old.
考古學家刷掉一塊超過四千年歷史的楔形文字泥板上的灰塵。
Fatima knew it was cuneiform from the wedge-shaped marks pressed into the clay.
Fatima 從黏土上楔形的印記看出那是楔形文字。
- wedge-shaped
describes the physical form of the marks, but does not refer to the writing system itself
文法句型
cuneiform + noun (script, tablet, writing, symbol)
用法筆記
Always used before a noun — you can say 'cuneiform script' but not 'the writing is cuneiform' in this sense. For predicative uses, switch to 'written in cuneiform'.
常見錯誤
2. describing a physical object or mark that is broad at its base and narrows to a
楔形的
一端寬一端窄的
describing a physical object or mark that is broad at its base and narrows to a thin point, like a wedge — used for the shape itself, not for the ancient writing system.
The archaeologists identified the flint tool as cuneiform because of its wedge-like shape.
考古學家判定這件燧石工具為楔形，因為它的形狀像一個楔子。
Ancient scribes used a reed stylus to make cuneiform impressions on wet clay.
古代書吏用蘆葦筆在濕黏土上壓出楔形的印痕。
cuneiform impressions — physical mark sense
A cuneiform stone weight from an ancient market had a wide top and narrow bottom.
來自古代市場的一件楔形石製砝碼，頂端寬、底部窄。
Each cuneiform mark was made by pressing the stylus at an angle into the clay.
每個楔形的記號，都是將筆以一個角度壓進黏土中做出來的。
The professor explained that the word 'cuneiform' comes from Latin and literally means 'wedge-shaped.'
教授解釋說，cuneiform 這個詞源自拉丁文，字面意思是「楔形的」。
- wedge-shaped
the everyday equivalent; use this instead of 'cuneiform' for non-historical descriptions
- tapered
describes something that narrows gradually to a point, though not necessarily as wide at the base
- rounded
having a curved rather than pointed shape
用法筆記
This physical-description sense is rare in modern English outside of academic writing. Most readers encounter 'cuneiform' only in the context of the ancient writing system (sense 1).
常見錯誤
cuneiform — 名詞
1. a method of recording language that was invented in Mesopotamia more than five t
楔形文字
古代美索不達米亞使用的文字
a method of recording language that was invented in Mesopotamia more than five thousand years ago, using wedge-shaped marks pressed into soft clay with a reed stylus — a script used for over three thousand years to write many languages including Sumerian, Akkadian, and Elamite.
Cuneiform was first developed by the Sumerians around 3400 BCE.
楔形文字最早是由蘇美人於西元前 3400 年左右發展出來的。
uncountable; 'cuneiform was…'
Olga deciphered a cuneiform passage about a trade agreement between two ancient Assyrian cities.
Olga 破譯了一段關於兩個古代亞述城市之間貿易協議的楔形文字。
The library's rare-books section includes a guide to reading ancient cuneiform.
圖書館的珍本區有一本解讀古代楔形文字的指南。
Scholars have translated thousands of cuneiform tablets that record everyday life in Babylon.
學者們翻譯了數千塊記錄巴比倫日常生活的楔形文字泥板。
Learning to read cuneiform takes years because the script has hundreds of different signs.
學習閱讀楔形文字需要好幾年，因為這種文字有數百種不同的符號。
- wedge writing
a descriptive alternative, but much less common than 'cuneiform' in academic use
- cuneiform script
a slightly more formal way to refer to the same system
文法句型
in cuneiform
written in cuneiform
用法筆記
Cuneiform is an uncountable noun — do not say 'a cuneiform' or 'cuneiforms.' Use 'cuneiform script' or 'a cuneiform writing system' if you need a countable form. The same word marks were used to write several unrelated languages over time, so 'cuneiform' refers to the script, not a particular language.