hierophant
- noun
- /ˈhaɪəroʊfænt/
:
hierofante
- This is a mental art that is known to hierophants, adepts, and masters of all ages.
Examples
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In ancient Greece, the hierophant played a crucial role in religious rituals, explaining sacred secrets to initiates.
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He knew about the prophecy of the last legitimate hierophant regarding the final ruin of not only Eleusis, but also of the cult of the Two Goddesses (Eliade 1982, 414-15).
Academic text (2000) -
The hierophant's teachings helped the followers understand the deeper meanings behind their spiritual ceremonies.
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As a respected hierophant, she interpreted the sacred texts for her community, guiding them in their beliefs.
Synonyms
A person who introduces newcomers to secret spiritual or religious beliefs
A person who explains difficult religious or philosophical texts
A person who studies religious ceremonies and traditions
Antonyms
How Authoritative
Surface Forms
Morphology
hierophant = hiero + phant
The elements 'hiero-' and '-phant' are Greek combining forms unfamiliar to average learners and not productive in modern English, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from the parts.
Etymology
The word hierophant comes from Greek parts hiero- 'sacred' and -phant from a word meaning 'to show', so a hierophant is literally someone who 'shows' or explains sacred things and therefore reveals religious mysteries.