n.
Pronunciation: ' h ī -( ə -) ˌ rärk
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ierarchis, plural, from Medieval Latin hierarcha, from Greek hierarch ē s, from hieros sacred + -arch ē s -arch
Date: 15th century
1 : a religious leader in a position of authority
2 : a person high in a hierarchy
– hi · er · ar · chal \ ˌ h ī -( ə -) ' rär-k ə l \ adjective