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Glite Dictionary
hierophantic

hierophantic

9.9
Relating to priests, sacred rituals, and secret religious meanings
  • adjective
  • /ˌhaɪəroʊˈfæntɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hierofántico
  • The seminar focused on hierophantic practices that reveal the deeper meanings of sacred traditions.

Examples

  • The priest delivered a hierophantic interpretation of the ancient texts during the ceremony.

  • Rich poured the cold soup into a bowl and set the bowl on the table across from the man, who had now resumed his hierophantic posture.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Pareidolic tendencies are sometimes hierophantic, such as the Man in the Moon or urban legends about a prophet likeness arising from a toaster.6

    Academic text (2017)

  • During the festival, the community engaged in hierophantic rituals to honor their ancestors.

Synonyms

mystagogical
vshierophantic
  • Formal
9.9

Relating to teaching new members the meaning of religious ceremonies

adds priests and ritual roles beyond teaching
mystagogic
vshierophantic
  • Formal
9.9

About teaching or explaining religious mysteries to new members

includes priestly rituals and roles beyond mere instruction
mysterial
vshierophantic
  • Formal
9.9

Relating to secret religious ceremonies

adds priestly and interpretive aspects beyond secret rites
hieratical
vshierophantic
9.9

About priests and their duties in religious ceremonies

extends to rituals and interpretation as well as priestly roles
hieratic
vshierophantic
  • Formal
9.9

About priests and their work

covers rituals and explaining mysteries as well as priestly concerns

Antonyms

secular
143 4.7

Not connected with religion, about everyday and public life

mundane
80 4.3

Ordinary daily things or events that are not special and often feel boring

How Sacred

sacred
250 4.6
hierophantic
  • Specialized
9.9
religious
∞ 2.7
ritualistic
16 7.2
secular
143 4.7

Surface Forms

hierophantic positive

Morphology

hierophantic = hierophant (transparent) = hierophant + ic

Formed by the regular adjective-forming suffix '-ic' added to 'hierophant', so the meaning 'relating to a hierophant or sacred rituals' is directly derived.

Etymology

Hierophantic comes from Greek parts hiero- meaning 'holy', as in hieroglyph and hierarchy, and -phant meaning 'to show', as in phantom. A hierophant was a priest who 'showed' or explained sacred things, so hierophantic means about priests or rituals that reveal or explain holy mysteries.