n. [ Gr. "iero`s sacred + &unr_; to be strong, rule.] Government by ecclesiastics; a hierarchy. Jefferson.

{ } n. [ Cf. F. hiéroglyphe. See Hieroglyphic, a. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A sacred character; a character used in picture writing, as of the ancient Egyptians, Mexicans, etc. Specifically, in the plural, the picture writing of the ancient Egyptian priests. It is made up of three, or, as some say, four classes of characters: first, the hieroglyphic proper, or figurative, in which the representation of the object conveys the idea of the object itself; second, the ideographic, consisting of symbols representing ideas, not sounds, as an ostrich feather is a symbol of truth; third, the phonetic, consisting of symbols employed as syllables of a word, or as letters of the alphabet, having a certain sound, as a hawk represented the vowel a. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any character or figure which has, or is supposed to have, a hidden or mysterious significance; hence, any unintelligible or illegible character or mark. [ Colloq. ]

{ } a. [ L. hieroglyphicus, Gr. &unr_;; "iero`s sacred + gly`fein to carve: cf. F. hiéroglyphique.] [1913 Webster]

1. Emblematic; expressive of some meaning by characters, pictures, or figures; as, hieroglyphic writing; a hieroglyphic obelisk. [1913 Webster]

Pages no better than blanks to common minds, to his, hieroglyphical of wisest secrets. Prof. Wilson. [1913 Webster]

2. Resembling hieroglyphics; not decipherable. “An hieroglyphical scrawl.” Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

3. of or pertaining to hieroglyphs. [wns=1] [WordNet 1.5]

adv. In hieroglyphics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One versed in hieroglyphics. Gliddon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. "iero`s sacred + -gram.] A form of sacred or hieratic writing. [1913 Webster]

a. [ Cf. F. hiérogrammatique. ] Written in, or pertaining to, hierograms; expressive of sacred writing. Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. hiérogrammatiste. ] A writer of hierograms; also, one skilled in hieroglyphics. Greenhill.

{ } a. [ L. hierographicus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. hiérographique. ] Of or pertaining to sacred writing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; "iero`s sacred + &unr_; to write: cf. F. hiérographie.] Sacred writing. [R.] Bailey. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. "iero`s sacred + &unr_; worship, &unr_; to worship.] The worship of saints or sacred things. [R.] Coleridge.

{ } a. [ Cf. F. hiérologique. ] Pertaining to hierology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One versed in, or whostudies, hierology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; "iero`s sacred + &unr_; discourse: cf. F. hiérologie.] A treatise on sacred things; especially, the science which treats of the ancient writings and inscriptions of the Egyptians, or a treatise on that science. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. "iero`s sacred + &unr_; divination: cf. F. hiéromantie.] Divination by observing the objects offered in sacrifice. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. "iero`s sacred + E. martyr.] A priest who becomes a martyr. [1913 Webster]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_;; "iero`s sacred + &unr_; mindful, fr. &unr_; to think on, remember.] (Gr. Antiq.) 1. The sacred secretary or recorder sent by each state belonging to the Amphictyonic Council, along with the deputy or minister. Liddel & Scott. [1913 Webster]

2. A magistrate who had charge of religious matters, as at Byzantium. Liddel & Scott. [1913 Webster]

‖n. [ Gr. "iero`n.] A consecrated place; esp., a temple. [1913 Webster]

n. [ From St. Hieronymus, or Jerome. ] (Eccl.) See Jeronymite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. hierophanta, hierophantes, Gr. "ierofa`nths; "iero`s sacred + fai`nein to show, make known: cf. F. hiérophante. ] The presiding priest who initiated candidates at the Eleusinian mysteries; hence, one who teaches the mysteries and duties of a religion or an arcane discipline; an expositor; as, In his television series “Cosmos”, Carl Sagan became the foremost hierophant of modern cosmology.. Abp. Potter.
Syn. -- mystagogue. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. an advocate or spokesperson. [ PJC ]

a. [ Gr. "ierofantiko`s.] Of or relating to hierophants or their teachings. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. "ieroskopi`a divination; "iero`s sacred + &unr_; to view. ] Divination by inspection of entrails of victims offered in sacrifice. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. -cæ [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;; "iero`s sacred + &unr_; chest.] A receptacle for sacred objects. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; "iero`s sacred + &unr_; work.] A sacred or holy work or worship. [Obs.] Waterland. [1913 Webster]