Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
Definition of pontificate - 4 dictionary results

pon⋅tif⋅i⋅cate

  [n. pon-tif-i-kit, -keyt; v. pon-tif-i-keyt] noun, verb, -cat⋅ed, -cat⋅ing.
Use pontificate in a Sentence
–noun
1. the office or term of office of a pontiff.
–verb (used without object)
2. to perform the office or duties of a pontiff.
3. to speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner: Did he pontificate about the responsibilities of a good citizen?
4. to serve as a bishop, esp. in a Pontifical Mass.
Origin:
1575–85; (n.) < L pontificātus; see pontifical, -ate 3 ; (v.) < ML pontificātus ptp. of pontificāre to be an ecclesiastic; see -ate 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pontificate
pon·tif·i·cate   (pŏn-tĭf'ĭ-kĭt, -kāt')   
n.  The office or term of office of a pontiff.
intr.v.   (-kāt') pon·tif·i·cat·ed, pon·tif·i·cat·ing, pon·tif·i·cates
  1. To express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way.
  2. To administer the office of a pontiff.

[Latin pontificātus, from pontifex, pontific-, pontifex; see pontifex. V., from Medieval Latin pontificāre, pontificāt-, to act as an ecclesiastic, from Latin pontifex.]
pon·tif'i·ca'tion n., pon·tif'i·ca'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Pontificate

Pon*tif"i*cate\, n. [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.

Pontificate

Pon*tif"i*cate\, v. i. (R. C. Ch.) To perform the duty of a pontiff.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see pontificate on Thesaurus | Reference