Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

(hī̍-ĕr′ō̍-fant or hī′ẽr; 277)

Noun.

[L.

hierophanta

hierophantes

, Gr.

ἱεροφάντης

;

ἱερόσ

sacred +

φαίνειν

to show, make known: cf. F.

hiérophante

The presiding priest who initiated candidates at the Eleusinian mysteries;

hence,

one who teaches the mysteries and duties of a religion or an arcane discipline; an expositor;

as, In his television series “Cosmos”,

Carl Sagan

became the foremost

hierophant

of modern cosmology.

Abp. Potter.

Syn. – mystagogue.

Noun.

[Gr. sacred,and to show.] A priest; one who teaches the mysteries and duties of religion.