hierocracy

American  

[hahy-uh-rok-ruh-see, hahy-rok-] / ˌhaɪ əˈrɒk rə si, haɪˈrɒk- /

noun

• hierocracies
  plural

1. rule or government by priests or ecclesiastics.

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hierocracy British  

/ ˌhaɪəˈrɒkrəsɪ /

noun

1. government by priests or ecclesiastics

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hierocratic
  adjective
• hierocratical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hierocracies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of hierocracy

First recorded in 1785–95; hiero- + -cracy

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hierocracy

For under the last-named the secularisation of the hierocracy no longer presented any attractive aspects; it was wholly repellent.

From Prolegomena by Julius Wellhausen

But the suddenness with which this full-grown hierocracy descended on the wilderness from the skies is only matched by the suddenness with which it afterwards disappeared in Canaan, leaving no trace behind it.

From Prolegomena by Julius Wellhausen

The problem would in this case still be the same, namely, to explain how it is that with and after the exile the hierocracy begins to come into practical activity.

From Prolegomena by Julius Wellhausen

Here plainly lies the material basis of the hierocracy from which the royal throne was ultimately reached.

From Prolegomena by Julius Wellhausen

The Book of Chronicles shows in what manner it was necessary to deal with the history of bygone times when it was assumed that the Mosaic hierocracy was their fundamental institution.

From Prolegomena by Julius Wellhausen

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