pontifical

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The Colonel was smiling now; his handsome face was gradually assuming the expression pontifical.

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Definitions (22)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (5)

  1. adjective Relating to, characteristic of, or suitable for a pope or bishop.
  2. adjective Having the dignity, pomp, or authority of a pontiff or bishop.
  3. adjective Pompously dogmatic or self-important; pretentious.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (11)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (4)

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Examples (50)

  • The arrival of envoys charged to take possession of it as a pontifical domain by no means gave them pause. —  The Project Gutenberg eBook of Life Of St. Francis of Assisi, by Paul Sabatier.
  • Elias found himself overpowered with sleep, and in his slumber he saw a venerable old man, clothed in white, with pontifical ornaments, who told him that Francis must prepare himself to suffer patiently for two years more, after which, death would deliver him, and would cause him to pass into perfect repose, free from all pain. —  The Life and Legends of Saint Francis of Assisi
  • Although all necessary ministers and material were available for a pontifical mass, the Cardinal insisted on having a sung mass. —  New Liturgical Movement
  • In a recent homily the preacher for the pontifical household, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, emphasized the importance of being modest in evaluating your own merits. —  Modestly Yours
  • As for relations with the followers of Archbishop Lefebvre, the Pope mentioned the parable of the Miraculous Draught of Fish to illustrate the constant quest for Church unity, saying he granted "the remission of the excommunication pronounced on four bishops consecrated by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre without pontifical mandate in 1988 [...] in compliance with this service of unity." —  Charlotte was Both
 

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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Old French, from Latin pontificālis, of a pontifex, from pontifex, pontific-, pontifex; see pontifex.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. from French pontifical = Spanish Portuguese pontifical = Italian pontificale, from Latin pontificalis, of or belonging to a pontiff, Middle Latin of or belonging to a bishop or the Pope (as a noun pontificate, neuter, a book of offices, pontificalia, neuter plural, pontifical vestments), from pontifex (-fic-), pontiff: see pontiff.
  2. from Latin pontifex (-fic-), literally sense, as in Middle Latin, ‘bridge-builder’: see pontiff. Cf. pontifical.
 

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/pɑnˈtɪfɪkəl/
by American Heritage

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