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hieratic

hi·er·at·ic

(hī′ə-răt′ĭk, hī-răt′-)

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.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hieratic

(ˌhaɪəˈrætɪk)

adj

1. (Ecclesiastical Terms) of or relating to priests

2. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) of or relating to a cursive form of hieroglyphics used by priests in ancient Egypt

3. (Art Terms) of or relating to styles in art that adhere to certain fixed types or methods, as in ancient Egypt

(Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) the hieratic script of ancient Egypt

[C17: from Latin hierāticus, from Greek hieratikos, from hiereus a priest, from hieros holy]

ˌhierˈatically adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

hi•er•at•ic

(ˌhaɪ əˈræt ɪk, haɪˈræt-)

adj.

1. Also, hi`er•at′i•cal. of or pertaining to priests or a priesthood; sacerdotal; priestly.

2. of or designating a form of ancient Egyptian writing consisting of abridged forms of hieroglyphics, used by the priests in their records.

3. fixed or formalized in style by tradition or convention: hieratic sculptures.

[1650–60; < Latin hierāticus < Greek hierātikós, derivative of hierā-, variant s. of hierâsthai to perform priestly functions]

hi`er•at′i•cal•ly, adv.