An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A system in which the components are organized in increasingly larger structures.

Etymology (EN): From O.Fr. ierarchie, from M.L. hierarchia “ranked division of angels,” from Gk. hierarchia “rule of a high priest,” from hierarches “high priest, leader of sacred rites,” from ta hiera “the sacred rites” (neut. pl. of hieros “sacred”) + archein “to lead, rule.”

Etymology (PE): Pâygân, from pâyé “step, rank, degree,” from pây, pâ “foot, step,” from
Mid.Pers. pâd, pây; Av. pad- “foot” (cf. Skt. pat; Gk. pos, gen. podos; L. pes, gen. pedis; P.Gmc. *fot; E. foot; Ger. Fuss; Fr. pied; PIE *pod-/*ped-) + -gân suffix forming plural entities, from Mid.Pers. -gânag, -gâna, from Proto-Iranian *kāna-ka-.