n. 1. One who occupies a position of authority in a religious hierarchy. 2. One who occupies a high position in a hierarchy: governmental hierarchs. [From Middle English jerarchis, hierarchs, from Medieval Latin hierarcha, dignitary, prelate, from Greek hierarkhēs, high priest : hieros, holy; see eis- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + -arkhēs, -arch.] |
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