View synonyms for

pontificate

[ noun pon-tif-i-kit, -keyt; verb pon-tif-i-keyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the office or term of office of a pontiff.

verb (used without object)

pontificated, pontificating.

to perform the office or duties of a pontiff.
to speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner:
Did he pontificate about the responsibilities of a good citizen?
to serve as a bishop, especially in a Pontifical Mass.

pontificate

verb

to speak or behave in a pompous or dogmatic manner Also (less commonly)pontifyˈpɒntɪˌfaɪ
to serve or officiate as a pontiff, esp in celebrating a Pontifical Mass

noun

the office or term of office of a pontiff, now usually the pope

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Other Word Forms

��ǲ�·�پ��·��·��·�پ��ǲ� [pon-tif-i-, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
��ǲ�·�پ��·��·��·�ٴǰ� noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pontificate¹

First recorded in 1400–50. The noun is from Latin ��ǲԳپ��ھ��ٳܲ�, derivative of pontific- (stem of pontifex ) + -��ٳܲ� noun suffix denoting office or function; pontifex, -ate ³. The verb is from Medieval Latin ��ǲԳپ��ھ��ٳܲ�, past participle of ��ǲԳپ��ھ�� “to be an ecclesiastic”; -ate ¹

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A single, white rose was pictured lying on the stone tomb that bears the name he was known by during his pontificate, below a crucifix illuminated by a single spotlight.

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The first South American pontiff passed away on Monday aged 88, marking the end of a 12-year pontificate.

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"Near that Queen of Peace, to whom I have always turned for help and whose embrace I have sought more than a hundred times during my pontificate," he explained in his will.

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Your special opens with you pontificating on how much you love the pageantry of American stand-up specials.

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From the very beginning his words made it clear that this pontificate was about more than the church, that it would have a larger and greater reach.

From

pontificals pontification

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