Meaning

noun a cursive form of Egyptian hieroglyphics; used especially by the priests

adjective associated with the priesthood or priests

adjective written or belonging to a cursive form of ancient Egyptian writing

originFrom Latin hieraticus, from Ancient Greek ἱερατικός (hieratikós), from ἱερατεία (hierateía, “priesthood”), from ἱερατεύω (hierateúō, “be a priest”), from ἱερεύς (hiereús, “priest”), from ἱερός (hierós, “sacred”). Use pertaining to the Egyptian writing system originates with the Greek phrase γράμματα ἱερατικά (grámmata hieratiká, literally “priestly writing”), which was first used by Saint Clement…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0