— hieratically , adv.
/huy'euh rat"ik, huy rat"-/ , adj.
1. Also, hieratical . of or pertaining to priests or the priesthood; sacerdotal; priestly.
2. noting or pertaining to a form of ancient Egyptian writing consisting of abridged forms of hieroglyphics, used by the priests in their records.
3. noting or pertaining to certain styles in art in which the representations or methods are fixed by or as if by religious tradition.
4. highly restrained or severe in emotional import: Some of the more hieratic sculptures leave the viewer curiously unmoved.
n.
5. ancient Egyptian hieratic writing.
[ 1650-60; hieraticus hieratikós pertaining to the priesthood, priestly, equiv. to hiera-, var. s. of hierâsthai to perform priestly functions (v. deriv. of hierós sacred; see HIERO-) + -ikos -IC, with -t- by analogy with derivatives from agent nouns in -tes (cf. ATHLETE, ATHLETIC) ]