hieratic
adjective
hi·er·at·ic ˌhī-(ə-)ˈra-tik 
1
: constituting or belonging to a cursive form of ancient Egyptian writing simpler than the hieroglyphic
2
: sacerdotal
3
: highly stylized or formal
hieratic poses
hieratically
ˌhī-(ə-)ˈra-ti-k(ə-)lē
adverb 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Ray films musical and dramatic scenes alike with dissonant clashes of elements in unbalanced compositions, sculptural gestures, and hieratic poses. 
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2021 At the same time, its static, hieratic text, derived largely from ancient Egyptian and Akkadian sources, lies far outside the operatic norm, and makes most American librettos of recent decades look bland. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021 The golden aura of its mosaics; the hieratic posture of religious figures; its spirituality. Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2020 Dench inhabits her hieratic role with wisdom, grace, nobility, and a sense of moment; Elba invests Macavity with fierce and insinuating power. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2019 Napoleon’s stature here is magnified by the hieratic frontality of his pose and the fact that the image fills almost the entire canvas. Benjamin Shull, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2018 This impact of Owens’s hieratic wife and muse, the golden-toothed, henna-tattooed Michele Lamy, is also omnipresent, not least because her unique cackling laugh, mixed into a show-reel soundtrack, rings through the exhibition. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 22 Dec. 2017 See More
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2021 At the same time, its static, hieratic text, derived largely from ancient Egyptian and Akkadian sources, lies far outside the operatic norm, and makes most American librettos of recent decades look bland. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021 The golden aura of its mosaics; the hieratic posture of religious figures; its spirituality. Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2020 Dench inhabits her hieratic role with wisdom, grace, nobility, and a sense of moment; Elba invests Macavity with fierce and insinuating power. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2019 Napoleon’s stature here is magnified by the hieratic frontality of his pose and the fact that the image fills almost the entire canvas. Benjamin Shull, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2018 This impact of Owens’s hieratic wife and muse, the golden-toothed, henna-tattooed Michele Lamy, is also omnipresent, not least because her unique cackling laugh, mixed into a show-reel soundtrack, rings through the exhibition. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 22 Dec. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin hieraticus sacerdotal, from Greek hieratikos, from hierasthai to perform priestly functions, from hieros sacred; probably akin to Sanskrit iṣara vigorous
First Known Use
1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1