hierophant

[ hahy-er-uh-fant, hahy-ruh-, hahy-er-uh- ]

noun

1. (in ancient Greece) an official expounder of rites of worship and sacrifice.
2. any interpreter of sacred mysteries or esoteric principles; mystagogue.

hierophant

/ ˈhaɪərəˌfænt /

noun

1. (in ancient Greece) an official high priest of religious mysteries, esp those of Eleusis
2. a person who interprets and explains esoteric mysteries

Derived Forms

• ˌhieroˈphantically, adverb
• ˌhieroˈphantic, adjective

Other Words From

• hier·o·phantic adjective
• hier·o·phanti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hierophant¹

1670–80; < Late Latin hierophanta < Greek hierophántēs, equivalent to hiero- hiero- + -phántēs, derivative of phaínein to show, make known

Word History and Origins

Origin of hierophant¹

C17: from Late Latin hierophanta, from Greek hierophantēs, from hiero- + phainein to reveal

Example Sentences

We are moving into the present moment with Instructor No. 5 or the Hierophant.

From Los Angeles Times

To the delighted worshipers, Cody Goodfellow, here a Most Exalted Hierophant, delivered a sermon that started with growled mentions of “doom-engines, black and red,” “great hammers of the scouring” and so on.

From New York Times

We are moving into the present moment with Instructor No. 5 or the Hierophant.

From Los Angeles Times

“It would do,” I affirmed with some disdain, “perfectly well. I have a woman’s heart, but not where you are concerned; for you I have only a comrade’s constancy; a fellow-soldier’s frankness, fidelity, fraternity, if you like; a neophyte’s respect and submission to his hierophant: nothing more—don’t fear.”

From Literature

I stood motionless under my hierophant’s touch.

From Literature