1. plural of hagiographer; writers who compose biographies of saints or venerated religious figures, often emphasizing their virtues and spiritual significance
Usage: typically used in religious or historical contexts; often refers to medieval or early Christian writers
2. writers who create idealized or uncritically admiring accounts of a person or group, glossing over faults or negative aspects
Usage: figurative or extended use; often used critically

Examples

• Medieval hagiographers documented the lives of Christian saints for devotional purposes.
• The hagiographers of the early church often emphasized miraculous events in their accounts.
• Some historians criticize modern hagiographers for presenting political figures without acknowledging their flaws.
• Ancient hagiographers wrote extensively about the martyrs and their spiritual achievements.
• The hagiographers' accounts, while inspiring, sometimes lack historical accuracy.
• Religious scholars study the works of Byzantine hagiographers to understand early Christian theology.