Definition of hierophant in English:
hierophant
noun ˈhʌɪ(ə)rə(ʊ)fantˈhaɪ(ə)rəˌfænt
A person, especially a priest, who interprets sacred mysteries or esoteric principles.
Example sentencesExamples
- The dedicatory inscription on a statue base found in the Agora Excavations throws new light on relations between families of hierophants and daduchs in the late second and early third century A.D.
- The father of Apollonios the hierophant was, as mentioned above, C. Iulius Casianus Apollonios of Steiria.
- In order for her to be the granddaughter of the hierophant Casianus Apollonios, her father must of course be his son, therefore born presumably ca. 175-180.
- As it happens, we know the hierophants who served from the reign of Antoninus Pius to ca. 191: Flavius Leosthenes and Julius Hierophantes.
- Clearly this hierophant had achieved a social and political status similar to that enjoyed by Apollonios.
Origin
Late 17th century: via late Latin from Greek hierophantēs, from hieros 'sacred' + phainein 'show, reveal'.
Definition of hierophant in US English:
hierophant
nounˈhaɪ(ə)rəˌfæntˈhī(ə)rəˌfant
A person, especially a priest in ancient Greece, who interprets sacred mysteries or esoteric principles.
Example sentencesExamples
- The dedicatory inscription on a statue base found in the Agora Excavations throws new light on relations between families of hierophants and daduchs in the late second and early third century A.D.
- In order for her to be the granddaughter of the hierophant Casianus Apollonios, her father must of course be his son, therefore born presumably ca. 175-180.
- As it happens, we know the hierophants who served from the reign of Antoninus Pius to ca. 191: Flavius Leosthenes and Julius Hierophantes.
- The father of Apollonios the hierophant was, as mentioned above, C. Iulius Casianus Apollonios of Steiria.
- Clearly this hierophant had achieved a social and political status similar to that enjoyed by Apollonios.
Origin
Late 17th century: via late Latin from Greek hierophantēs, from hieros ‘sacred’ + phainein ‘show, reveal’.