Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The office or term of office of a pontiff.
  • intransitive verb To express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way.
  • intransitive verb To administer the office of a pontiff.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To act officially as pontiff or bishop; especially, to say pontifical mass.
  • noun The office or dignity of a pontiff, high priest, or pope.
  • noun The time during which a pontifical office is held by any given incumbent.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb (R. C. Ch.) To perform the duty of a pontiff.
  • noun The state or dignity of a high priest; specifically, the office of the pope.
  • noun The term of office of a pontiff.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.
  • verb intransitive To preside as a bishop, especially at mass.
  • verb intransitive To act like a pontiff; to express one’s position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if they were absolutely correct.
  • verb intransitive To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner
  • verb administer a pontifical office
  • noun the government of the Roman Catholic Church

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin pontificātus, from pontifex, pontific-, pontifex; see pontifex. V., from Medieval Latin pontificāre, pontificāt-, to act as an ecclesiastic, from Latin pontifex.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin pontificatus, from pontifex ("high priest"), from pons ("bridge") + facere ("make").

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the past participle stem of mediaeval Latin pontificare ("pontificate"), from Latin pontifex ("high priest"), from pons ("bridge") + facere ("make").

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Examples

  • "Today as the conclave announces its decision, the offering of prayers for this new pontificate is the most appropriate response from other Christian leaders," the Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC general minister and president, said in a written statement to United Church News.

    The Rev. Chuck Currie: 2009

  • "Today as the conclave announces its decision, the offering of prayers for this new pontificate is the most appropriate response from other Christian leaders," the Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC general minister and president, said in a written statement to United Church News.

    Pope Reaches Out To Holocaust Denier; Jewish Leader Reacts 2009

  • "Today as the conclave announces its decision, the offering of prayers for this new pontificate is the most appropriate response from other Christian leaders," the Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC general minister and president, said in a written statement to United Church News.

    Pope Reaches Out To Holocaust Denier; Jewish Leader Reacts 2009

  • "Today as the conclave announces its decision, the offering of prayers for this new pontificate is the most appropriate response from other Christian leaders," the Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC general minister and president, said in a written statement to United Church News.

    Religion 2010

  • One of the fascinating things about Pope Benedict's pontificate is how he has consistently and continually appealed to reason and to man's ability to think, know, and understand.

    Insight Scoop | The Ignatius Press Blog: 2008

  • The excess space they give you to iterate and re-iterate, describe, and have characters reflect and pontificate is nothing less than sheer luxury. on 08 Jul 2008 at 12: 33 pm Therese Walsh

    Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » Killing Darlings 2008

  • One of the fascinating things about Pope Benedict's pontificate is how he has consistently and continually appealed to reason and to man's ability to think, know, and understand.

    Must read: Benedict XVI's reflection on 2008... 2008

  • In short, Mr. Outside has been succeeded by Mr. Inside; and the story of Ratzinger's emergence as the Church's leader reveals the ways in which his pontificate is likely to affect the Church as a whole.

    The Year of two Popes 2006

  • In short, Mr. Outside has been succeeded by Mr. Inside; and the story of Ratzinger's emergence as the Church's leader reveals the ways in which his pontificate is likely to affect the Church as a whole.

    The Year of two Popes 2006

  • The problem with the blogosphere and and you lot that sit back and pontificate is that a keyboard and mouse have made you an expert.

    Weenie of the Week #30 for 2006 2006

Comments

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  • pontifi-kate; pontifi-ket.

    November 22, 2007

  • Blahblahblahblahblah.

    January 18, 2008

  • Watch it, you guys, or we may have to depontificate you. ;-)

    January 18, 2008

  • "I think they might reconsider it given the fun and knowledge gained by the the logophiles and verbivores visiting sites like this one."

    A nice example of pontification from everybody's (everybodie's? no…) favourite pompous old git. Notice the delightful way in which the writer assumes his readership to be, oh I don't know, about 50 years younger than he is, and the beautifully old-fashioned "for fun and profit" tone.

    September 9, 2008

  • speak bombastically

    arrogant

    March 25, 2013