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hieratic

 - 3 dictionary results

hi⋅er⋅at⋅ic

  [hahy-uh-rat-ik, hahy-rat-]
Use hieratic in a Sentence
–adjective
1. Also, hi⋅er⋅at⋅i⋅cal. of or pertaining to priests or the priesthood; sacerdotal; priestly.
2. noting or pertaining to a form of ancient Egyptian writing consisting of abridged forms of hieroglyphics, used by the priests in their records.
3. noting or pertaining to certain styles in art in which the representations or methods are fixed by or as if by religious tradition.
4. highly restrained or severe in emotional import: Some of the more hieratic sculptures leave the viewer curiously unmoved.
–noun
5. ancient Egyptian hieratic writing.
Origin:
1650–60; < L hierāticus < Gk hierātikós pertaining to the priesthood, priestly, equiv. to hierā-, var. s. of hierâsthai to perform priestly functions (v. deriv. of hierós sacred; see hiero- ) + -ikos -ic, with -t- by analogy with derivatives from agent nouns in -tēs (cf. athlete, athletic )

Related forms:
hi⋅er⋅at⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hieratic
hi·er·at·ic   (hī'ə-rāt'ĭk, hī-rāt'-)   
adj.  

  1. Of or associated with sacred persons or offices; sacerdotal.

  2. Constituting or relating to a simplified cursive style of Egyptian hieroglyphics, used in both sacred and secular writings.

  3. Extremely formal or stylized, as in a work of art.


[Latin hierāticus, from Greek hierātikos, from hierāteia, priesthood, from hierāsthai, to be a priest, from hiereus, priest, from hieros, holy; see eis- in Indo-European roots.]
hi'er·at'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hieratic 
1656 (implied in hieratical), from Gk. hieratikos, from hierateia "priesthood," from hierasthai "be a priest," from hiereus "priest," from hieros "sacred."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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