chirotony means the laying on of hands as an ecclesiastical rite. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
Why “chirotony” is a great word
CHIROTONY — [Noun] The ecclesiastical rite of ordination or blessing performed by the laying on of hands. From Ancient Greek χειροτονίᾱ (kheirotoníā), from χείρ (kheír, "hand") + -τονία (-tonía, from τόνος (tónos, "stretching, tension")). First attested in English in 1878. Unlike chirothesia, which denotes the broader sacramental gesture of imposition, or semikhah, which carries the specific weight of Jewish rabbinic tradition, chirotony is the solemn conduit of apostolic authority within Christian liturgy. It is the heavy weight of a bishop's palms upon a bowed head, the collective pressure of elders' hands on a deacon's shoulders, and the palpable, silent transfer of a burden across generations—a tactile thread, drawn taut by duty, connecting centuries of faith through the simple architecture of touch.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek χειροτονίᾱ (kheirotoníā), from χείρ (kheír, “hand”) + -τονία (-tonía) (from τόνος (tónos, “stretching, tension”)).
noun
- The laying on of hands as an ecclesiastical rite