Definition of HIERARCH

hierarch

Meanings

Plural: hierarchs

Noun

  • a person who holds a high position in a hierarchy
  • a senior clergyman and dignitary
  • One who has high and controlling authority in sacred things; the chief of a sacred order.
  • A title of bishops in their role as ordinaries (arbiters of canon law) over their respective dioceses.

Origin / Etymology

From Medieval Latin hierarcha, from Ancient Greek ἱεράρχης (hierárkhēs) Derived from ἱερός (hierós, “holy”) + -άρχης (-árkhēs, “ruler”, “leader”).
ἱερός from Proto-Hellenic *iherós, from Proto-Indo-European *ish₁ros. There are a number of candidate cognates with this word. Compare Sanskrit इषिर (iṣira, “vigorous, fresh, blooming”) and Oscan 𐌀𐌉𐌔𐌖𐌔𐌉𐌔 (aisusis).

Synonyms

archpriest, high priest, ordinary, prelate, primate

Scrabble Score: 16

hierarch is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
hierarch is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
hierarch is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

hierarch is a valid Words With Friends word