I. |hīə|rad.ik also (ˈ)hī|r- adjective
Etymology: Latin hieraticus, from Greek hieratikos, from (assumed) hieratos (verbal of hierasthai to be a priest, from hieros powerful, supernatural, holy, sacred) + -ikos -ic — more at ire
1. : written in, constituting, or belonging to a cursive form of ancient Egyptian writing simpler and less pictorial than the hieroglyphic
only those who served in the temples knew the secret of the hieratic writing — W.M.James
— see demotic 2
2. also hi·er·at·i·cal -d.ə̇kəl : of, relating to, or associated with priestly functions : sacerdotal
the gestures hieratic as if from some slow and ancient ritual — Hallam Tennyson
hieratic art of the church — Herbert Read
the powerful hieratic sculpture of the Aztecs — B.D.Wolfe
• hi·er·at·i·cal·ly -ə̇k(ə)lē adverb
II. noun
( -s )
: a cursive form of ancient Egyptian writing
the oldest dated papyrus … is written in hieratic — H.B.Van Hoesen & F.K.Walter