An ancient Mesopotamian writing system using wedge-shaped marks, and — in anatomy — a term for wedge-shaped structures, both derived from the Latin word for wedge.
The medial cuneiform bone articulates with the first metatarsal.
The decipherment of cuneiform in the 19th century opened an entire civilisation to modern scholarship.
A stress fracture of the lateral cuneiform is less common than other tarsal injuries.
Anatomists describe the three cuneiform bones as medial, intermediate, and lateral.
Archaeologists uncovered a cuneiform tablet recording a grain transaction from 3000 BCE.
Similar words
sumerian script
mesopotamian script
wedge-shaped
sphenoid
cuneate
wedge script
Meanings
Ancient Mesopotamian writing system
noun
history
neutral
A system of writing developed in ancient Sumer around 3400 BCE, using wedge-shaped marks pressed into wet clay tablets with a reed stylus; used by Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and other early civilisations.
Examples
Archaeologists uncovered a cuneiform tablet recording a grain transaction from 3000 BCE.
She spent a decade learning to read cuneiform before publishing her translation of the Gilgamesh epic.
The museum's collection includes hundreds of cuneiform inscriptions from Ur.
Cuneiform was eventually displaced by the Aramaic alphabet across much of the Near East.
The decipherment of cuneiform in the 19th century opened an entire civilisation to modern scholarship.
Similar words
wedge script
mesopotamian script
sumerian script
Wedge-shaped (anatomy)
adjective
medicine
technical
Having the form of a wedge; applied in anatomy chiefly to three small tarsal bones of the foot (medial, intermediate, and lateral cuneiform bones) and to wedge-shaped cartilage in the larynx.
Examples
The medial cuneiform bone articulates with the first metatarsal.
A stress fracture of the lateral cuneiform is less common than other tarsal injuries.
The cuneiform cartilage sits above the corniculate in the laryngeal inlet.
On the X-ray, the intermediate cuneiform showed early signs of arthritis.
Anatomists describe the three cuneiform bones as medial, intermediate, and lateral.
Similar words
wedge-shaped
cuneate
sphenoid
Etymology
From New Latin cuneiformis, combining Latin cuneus ('wedge') and forma ('shape') with the suffix -iform ('having the form of'). The anatomical sense entered English in the mid-17th century; the application to the Mesopotamian writing system developed in the early 19th century as European scholars first deciphered tablets found at Persepolis and Nineveh.
FAQ
Who invented cuneiform writing?
Cuneiform was invented by the ancient Sumerians in Mesopotamia (modern southern Iraq) around 3400–3300 BCE, making it one of the world's earliest writing systems.
How is cuneiform different from hieroglyphics?
Cuneiform was developed in Mesopotamia and uses wedge-shaped impressions in clay. Hieroglyphics were a distinct Egyptian system using pictorial symbols carved or painted on stone and papyrus. The two systems evolved independently.
What does cuneiform mean in Latin?
Cuneiform comes from Latin cuneus (wedge) and forma (shape), meaning 'wedge-shaped'. The name was given by 19th-century European scholars to describe the characteristic wedge impressions of the script.
What is the cuneiform bone?
There are three cuneiform bones in the human foot: the medial, intermediate, and lateral cuneiforms. They are small wedge-shaped bones in the tarsus (midfoot) that connect to the metatarsals.
Is cuneiform still used today?
No. Cuneiform gradually fell out of use and was extinct by the 1st century CE. Today it is studied by scholars of ancient Near Eastern languages such as Sumerian, Akkadian, and Elamite.
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