hieratic

American  

[hahy-uh-rat-ik, hahy-rat-] / ˌhaɪ əˈræt ɪk, haɪˈræt- /

adjective

1. Also hieratical. of or relating 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.

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noun

1. ancient Egyptian hieratic writing.

hieratic British  

/ ˌhaɪəˈrætɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to priests

2. of or relating to a cursive form of hieroglyphics used by priests in ancient Egypt

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

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noun

1. the hieratic script of ancient Egypt

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

The Egyptians also developed a simplified version of this hieroglyphic script known as hieratic, which they often employed for more mundane purposes such as recordkeeping and issuing receipts in commercial transactions.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

At the same time, its static, hieratic text, derived largely from ancient Egyptian and Akkadian sources, lies far outside the operatic norm, and makes most American librettos of recent decades look bland.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 4, 2016

This half boast, half ambition puts Google into a long line of hieratic readers of the sky, and has a nice a touch of Kabbalah as well.

From Salon • Jul. 19, 2015

Gravity imaginatively resurrected the space shuttle so that it could be spectacularly destroyed in 3-D, and Interstellar sent Matthew McConaughey’s hieratic drawl out from the Louisiana bayou and into the stars.

From Slate • Jun. 1, 2015

The portrait is a little gem, which Bastien-Lepage wrought with the minuteness and affectedly hieratic mannerism of Holbein and the French primitive school.

From Bastien Lepage by Crastre, Fr.