hierarchy: [14] Greek hierós meant ‘sacred, holy’. Combined with -arkhēs ‘ruling’ (as in English archbishop) it produced hierárkhēs ‘chief priest’. A derivative of this, hierarkhíā, passed via medieval Latin hierarchia and Old French ierarchie into Middle English as ierarchie (the modern spelling was introduced on the basis of the Latin form in the 16th century).
At first the word was used in English for the medieval categorization of angels (into cherubs and seraphs, powers and dominions, etc), and it was not until the early 17th century that it was applied to the clergy and their grades and ranks. The metaphorical use for any graded system soon followed.
hierarchy (n.)
mid-14c., from Old French ierarchie, from Medieval Latin hierarchia "ranked division of angels" (in the system of Dionysius the Areopagite), from Greek hierarkhia "rule of a high priest," from hierarkhes "high priest, leader of sacred rites," from ta hiera "the sacred rites" (neuter plural of hieros "sacred;" see ire) + arkhein "to lead, rule" (see archon). Sense of "ranked organization of persons or things" first recorded 1610s, initially of clergy, sense probably influenced by higher. Related: Hierarchal; hierarchical.
中文解释
1、hier- + -archy.2、原始字面含义：high priest, leader of sacred rites. => ranked division of angels or clergy. => 后来，进一步引申为一般意义上的层级、等级制度。3、因此，可以看到该词是由最初的划分了等级的、等级制度森严的宗教统治（集团/组织），逐渐演变成今天的含义的。
实用例句
1. The principle of hierarchy does not equate to totalitarian terror.
等级制度在原则上并不等同于极权主义恐怖。
来自柯林斯例句
2. My ambition was to travel upwards in the ecclesiastical hierarchy.
我的雄心是在教会中一步一步往上走。
来自柯林斯例句
3. See how stupidly they kow-tow to persons higher in the hierarchy.
瞧他们对上级唯命是从的样子是多么愚蠢啊。
来自柯林斯例句
4. She rose up the Tory hierarchy by the local government route.
她通过地方政府的渠道在保守党的等级制度中一步步地晋升。
来自柯林斯例句
5. There is a rigid hierarchy of power in that country.
