1. of or concerning priests: "he raised both his arms in a hieratic gesture"
▪ of or in the ancient Egyptian writing of abridged hieroglyphics used by priests.
▪ of or concerning Egyptian or Greek styles of art adhering to early methods as laid down by religious tradition.
Word Originmid 17th century (earlier as hieratical): via Latin from Greek hieratikos, from hierasthai ‘be a priest’, from hiereus ‘priest’, hieros ‘sacred’.