The Greek word hierarchía is formed from hierós “holy, dedicated to a god, sacred, strong, excellent, glorious” and a derivative of the verb árchein “to be first, begin, rule.” The earliest occurrence of hierarchy in English dates from the late 14th century in the sense “one of the three divisions of the angels into higher and lower ranks.” This meaning was quickly extended to other supernatural entities, and finally, in the 16th century, to “rule or dominion in holy matters, rule or government by priests, a system of ecclesiastical rule.” The sense “a group of people, plants, animals, or things ranked in grades, orders, or classes” dates from the 17th century. The Medieval Latin word originally meant “rank or dignity of a hierarch (high-ranking religious leader)” in a system devised in the late 5th or early 6th century by the mystical theologian and philosopher Pseudo-Dionysius. TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Other definitions for -archy (2 of 2) -archy a combining form meaning rule, government, forming abstract nouns usually corresponding to personal nouns ending in -arch: monarchy oligarchy. hierarchy synonyms, hierarchy pronunciation, hierarchy translation, English dictionary definition of hierarchy. Hierarchy comes ultimately from Greek hierarchía “stewardship of sacred rites,” a derivative of hierárchēs “high priest, leader of sacred rites,” via Medieval Latin (h)ierarchia. a combining form meaning rule, government, forming abstract nouns that correspond to personal nouns ending in -arch: monarchy oligarchy patriarchy.
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