PONTIFICAL

grandiloquent, overblown, pompous, pontifical, portentous

(adjective) puffed up with vanity; “a grandiloquent and boastful manner”; “overblown oratory”; “a pompous speech”; “pseudo-scientific gobbledygook and pontifical hooey”- Newsweek

episcopal, pontifical

(adjective) denoting or governed by or relating to a bishop or bishops

papal, apostolic, apostolical, pontifical

(adjective) proceeding from or ordered by or subject to a pope or the papacy regarded as the successor of the Apostles; “papal dispensation”

pontifical

(noun) the vestments and other insignia of a pontiff (especially a bishop)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

pontifical (comparative more pontifical, superlative most pontifical)

Of or pertaining to a pontiff.

Of or pertaining to a bishop; episcopal.

Of or pertaining to a pope; papal.

Pompous, dignified or dogmatic.

Splendid; magnificent.

Of or pertaining to the pontifices of Ancient Rome.

Of or relating to the building of bridges.

Noun

pontifical (plural pontificals)

A book containing the offices, or formulas, used by a pontiff.

Usage notes

The plural, pontificals, refers to "the vestments of a bishop".

Source: Wiktionary

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Pon*tif"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. pontificalis: cf. F. pontifical. See Pontiff.]

1. Of or pertaining to a pontiff, or high priest; as, pontifical authority; hence, belonging to the pope; papal.

2. Of or pertaining to the building of bridges. [R.] Now had they brought the work by wondrous art Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock Over the vexed abyss. Milton.

Pon*tif"ic*al, n. Etym: [F.]

1. A book containing the offices, or formulas, used by a pontiff. South.

2. pl.

Definition: The dress and ornaments of a pontiff. "Dressed in full pontificals." Sir W. Scott.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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