hieratic
Americanadjective
-
Also hieratical. of or relating to priests or the priesthood; sacerdotal; priestly.
-
noting or pertaining to a form of ancient Egyptian writing consisting of abridged forms of hieroglyphics, used by the priests in their records.
-
noting or pertaining to certain styles in art in which the representations or methods are fixed by or as if by religious tradition.
-
highly restrained or severe in emotional import.
Some of the more hieratic sculptures leave the viewer curiously unmoved.
noun
adjective
-
of or relating to priests
-
of or relating to a cursive form of hieroglyphics used by priests in ancient Egypt
-
of or relating to styles in art that adhere to certain fixed types or methods, as in ancient Egypt
noun
Other Word Forms
- hieratically adverb
- nonhieratic adjective
- nonhieratical adjective
- nonhieratically adverb
- unhieratic adjective
- unhieratical adjective
- unhieratically adverb
Etymology
Origin of hieratic
1650–60; < Latin hierāticus < Greek hierātikós pertaining to the priesthood, priestly, equivalent to hierā-, variant stem of hierâsthai to perform priestly functions (verbal derivative of hierós sacred; hiero- ) + -ikos -ic, with -t- by analogy with derivatives from agent nouns in -tēs ( athlete, athletic )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His show, titled “Strobe,” was inspired by the designer’s recent trip to Egypt and featured models wearing hieratic headpieces that were a cross between a Dan Flavin sculpture and a display panel at Just Bulbs.
From New York Times
Hanging behind him, in a hieratic arrangement suggestive of altars, two carcasses of beef.
From Washington Post
The images were only applied in paint, but the hieratic texts were written in black or red ink and later traced, coarsely, with a knife.
From New York Times
Alongside the hieratic tableaux, I will long remember the virtuoso turns by solo performers, who gave this suprahuman work a human immediacy.
From The New Yorker
The way Ms. Rebet abbreviates the men, especially, is lovely, like an elegant hieratic calligraphy.
From New York Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
