How Do You Spell CUNEIFORM?

Pronunciation: [kˈʌne͡ɪfˌɔːm] (IPA)

The word 'cuneiform' is spelled with six letters which can be broken down into three syllables. The first syllable is 'cu' which is pronounced as 'kju' using IPA phonetic transcription. The second syllable is 'nei' which is pronounced as 'neɪ'. The final syllable is 'form' which is pronounced as 'fɔːm'. The word originated from the Latin words 'cuneus' meaning wedge and 'forma' meaning shape. It refers to one of the earliest forms of writing which involved pressing wedge-shaped marks onto clay tablets.

CUNEIFORM Meaning and Definition

1. Cuneiform is a system of writing that was developed and used by ancient civilizations, particularly in the regions of Mesopotamia, from around 3500 BCE to the 1st century CE. The term "cuneiform" originates from Latin words "cuneus" meaning "wedge" and "forma" meaning "shape," as this writing system is characterized by wedge-shaped impressions made on clay tablets.

   Cuneiform is considered one of the earliest known forms of writing, predating other scripts such as Egyptian hieroglyphs and even the alphabetic systems. It consists of a combination of pictographs and abstract signs that represent words, syllables, or specific sounds. The impressions were made by pressing a reed stylus into soft clay, forming indentations that resembled wedges.

   This complex writing system was employed to record various aspects of Mesopotamian life, including administrative, legal, economic, literary, and religious texts. It was used by different civilizations in the region, such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Cuneiform was primarily used for writing on clay tablets, but it could also be found on other materials like stone or metal.

   Due to its longevity and widespread usage over several millennia, cuneiform scripts evolved and underwent various adaptations. Scholars have deciphered and translated thousands of cuneiform tablets, allowing us to gain invaluable insights into ancient Mesopotamian history, culture, and language. The decipherment of cuneiform was a significant achievement in the field of archaeology and linguistics, as it provided a key to understanding the rich and diverse civilizations of the ancient near east.

Top Common Misspellings for CUNEIFORM *

• cuniform 77.7777777%
• cunieform 22.2222222%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for CUNEIFORM

• cuneform
• coneiform
• cuneiforn
• cuneifomr
• cune iform
• Pynniform
• coreiform
• culciform
• canniform
• teniiform
• Conechiform
• Lkeniform
• Catafora
• Funeliform
• Runeiform
• caniform
• unceiform
• cuneiformo
• Cuneiforams
• Cuneifarms
• Mansiform
• Cunfiform
• Cuneforam

Etymology of CUNEIFORM

The word "cuneiform" has its origins in Latin. It comes from the combination of two Latin words: "cuneus" meaning "wedge" and "forma" meaning "shape" or "form". The term "cuneiform" literally translates to "wedge-shaped" or "wedge-formed". This name is fitting because the writing system used in ancient Mesopotamia, which is referred to as cuneiform, was made up of wedge-shaped marks that were impressed on clay tablets.

Similar spelling words for CUNEIFORM

• uniform,
• conform.

Plural form of CUNEIFORM is CUNEIFORMS