hierocracy

== English == === Etymology === From hiero- +‎ -cracy. === Pronunciation === (US) IPA(key): /haɪəˈɹɑkɹəsi/ Rhymes: -ɒkɹəsi === Noun === hierocracy (countable and uncountable, plural hierocracies) Government by ecclesiastics. (historical, Middle Ages) The doctrine that the pope held supreme temporal, and not just spiritual, power. ==== Derived terms ==== hierocrat hierocratic ==== See also ==== Appendix:Forms of government