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

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 • Dec. 30, 2019

He revels in their flamboyant playfulness and its earnest purpose, in their fusion of slapstick antics with hieratic exaltation.

From The New Yorker • Mar. 13, 2017

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

Obliterated as the old Hellenic religion appeared to be by Christianity, it nevertheless retained a certain life, though transformed, under the new creed to which it lent much of its hieratic organization and religious terminology.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 5 "Greek Law" to "Ground-Squirrel" by Various