Hieratic Definition

hīə-rătĭk, hī-răt-
adjective
Of or used by priests; priestly; sacerdotal.
Webster's New World
Designating or of the abridged form of cursive hieroglyphic writing once used by priests of ancient Egypt.
Webster's New World
Extremely formal or stylized, as in a work of art.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
noun

A writing system used in pharaonic Egypt that was developed alongside the hieroglyphic system, primarily written in ink with a reed brush on papyrus, allowing scribes to write quickly without resorting to the time consuming hieroglyphs.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:
  • hieratic script

Other Word Forms of Hieratic

Noun

Singular:
hieratic
Plural:
hieratics

Origin of Hieratic

  • Use pertaining to the Egyptian writing system originates with the Greek phrase γράμματα ἱερατικά (grammata hieratika; literally "priestly writing"), which was first used by Saint Clement of Alexandria in the 2nd century AD, as at that time hieratic was used only for religious texts, as had been the case for the previous thousand years.

    From Wiktionary

  • Latin hierāticus from Greek hierātikos from hierāteia priesthood from hierāsthai to be a priest from hiereus priest from hieros holy eis- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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