PONTIFICATE

papacy, pontificate

(noun) the government of the Roman Catholic Church

pontificate

(verb) talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner; “The new professor always pontificates”

pontificate

(verb) administer a pontifical office

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

pontificate (plural pontificates)

The status or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.

Etymology 2

Verb

pontificate (third-person singular simple present pontificates, present participle pontificating, simple past and past participle pontificated)

(intransitive) To preside as a bishop, especially at mass.

(intransitive) To act like a pontiff; to express one's position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if they were absolutely correct.

(intransitive) To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length.

Source: Wiktionary


Pon*tif"i*cate, n. Etym: [L. pontificatus: cf. F. pontificat. See Pontiff.]

1. The state or dignity of a high priest; specifically, the office of the pope. Addison.

2. The term of office of a pontiff. Milman.

Pon*tif"i*cate, v. i. (R. C. Ch.)

Definition: To perform the duty of a pontiff.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

9 June 2025

HERMAPHRODITE

(noun) one having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be made


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Coffee Trivia

Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.

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