hiero-, hier- +

(Greek: sacred, holy)


hieralgia
Pain in the sacrum (a reference to the os sacrum or the sacred bone; so called because it was thought never to disintegrate). The os sacrum is a large triangular bone formed by the fusion of the five sacral vertebrae at the base of the vertebral column and lying between the hip bones at the posterosuperior aspect of the pelvic cavity.
hierarch
1. One who has rule or authority in holy things; an ecclesiastical ruler or potentate; a chief priest; a chief prelate, an archbishop.
2. Applied to an archangel; also to Christ, as commander of the celestial hierarch.
hierarchal, hierarchic
Of or belonging to a hierarch or a hierarchy.
hierarchical
1. Belonging to the angelic hierarchy.
2. Belonging to a priestly hierarchy, or body of ecclesiastical rulers.
3. According to a regular gradation of orders, classes, or ranks.
hierarchically
In the manner of a hierarchy; from a hierarchical point of view; in a graduated order.
hierarchism
Hierarchical practice and principles; hierarchical system.
hierarchist
An adherent or supporter of a hierarchy.
hierarchize
To arrange in a hierarchy or gradation of orders.
hierarchy
1. Rule or dominion in holy things; priestly rule or government; a system of ecclesiastical rule.
2. The collective body of ecclesiastical rulers; an organized body of priests or clergy in successive orders or grades.
3. A body of persons or things ranked in grades, orders, or classes, one above another; specifically, in natural science and logic, a system or series of terms of successive rank (as classes, orders, genera, species, etc.), used in classification.
It often happens that I wake at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope.
—Pope John XXIII
hieratic
1. A cursive form of Egyptian hieroglyphics; used especially by the priests.
2. Adhering to fixed types or methods; highly restrained and formal: "The more hieratic sculptures leave the viewer curiously unmoved."
3. Written or belonging to a cursive form of ancient Egyptian writing: "Hieratic Egyptian script."
4. Associated with the priesthood or priests: "Hieratic gestures."
5. Fixed, formal, and stylized in a traditional way, e.g. as ancient Egyptian art is.
6. Of or associated with sacred persons or offices; sacerdotal.
hieratica
Papyrus of the finest quality, in ancient Egypt appropriated to sacred writings.
hierocracy, hierocracies
1. Government by church clergy or priests; ecclesiastical rule.
2. A body of religious clergy that rules a place or country.
3. Rulership by the church or by church officials.
hierocratic
Of or pertaining to a hierocrcy.
hierodule (s), hierodules (pl), hieodulic
1. A temple slave in ancient Greece.
2. In ancient Greece, an enslaved person kept in or associated with a temple; especially, as a prostitute.
3. A slave serving in an ancient temple, as in Greece or Anatolia, in the service of a specific deity.
4. A slave (of either sex) dwelling in a temple, and dedicated to the service of a god.
hierofastidia
A dislike of all "holy" objects.

Ancient hieroscribe symbol This ancient Egyptian hieroglyph, the symbol of the Egyptian scribe, will take you to an explanation of hieroglyphs for a greater understanding of these special writing symbols.


Related religious-word units: church; dei-, div-; ecclesi-; fanati-; idol-; -olatry; theo-; zelo-.

Related "holy, sacred" word families: hagio-; icono-; sacro-; sanct-.


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