hagiocracy

American  

[hag-ee-ok-ruh-see, hey-jee-] / ˌhæg iˈɒk rə si, ˌheɪ dʒi- /

noun

hagiocracies plural

1. government by a body of persons esteemed as holy.

2. a state so governed.

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hagiocracy British  

/ ˌhæɡɪˈɒkrəsɪ /

noun

1. government by holy men

2. a state, community, etc, governed by holy men

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hagiocracies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hagiocracy

First recorded in 1840–50; hagio- + -cracy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hagiocracy

“When the Son-of-the-Snake,” inquired Birnier, who had learned as much of the hagiocracy as Mungongo knew, “hath taken up the Burden, wilt thou then drive Eyes-in-the-hands from the country?”

From Witch-Doctors by Beadle, Charles

The era of the "hagiocracy," of the supreme influence of the priesthood and the rigid adherence to the law, with an inflexible hostility to heathen customs, ensued.

From Outline of Universal History by Fisher, George Park