hierophant definition - Dictionary

MSN homeMailMy MSN

encartagreeting cards

encarta®

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Translations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

	hidebound

	hideous

	hideout

	hidey-hole

	hiding (1)

	hiding (2)

	hiding place

	hidrosis

	hidy-hole

	hie

	hier-

	hierarch

	hierarchical

	hierarchize

	hierarchy

	hieratic

	hiero-

Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

hierophant

hi·er·o·phant [ hrə fànt, h ərə fànt, hī érrə fànt ] (plural hi·er·o·phants)

noun

Definition:

1. explainer of mysteries: somebody who interprets and explains obscure and mysterious matters, especially sacred doctrines or mysteries

2. interpreter of events: somebody who explains or comments on everyday matters ( formal )

3. ancient Greek priest: in ancient Greece, a priest who revealed the mysteries at the annual festival of Eleusis

[Late 17th century. Via late Latin< Greek hierophantēs "sacred person who reveals something" < hieros "sacred" + phen-, stem of phainein "reveal"]

hi·er·o·phan·tic [ hrə fántik, h ərə fántik, hī èrrə fántik ] adjective

hi·er·o·phan·ti·cal·ly adverb