different between pontiff vs pontificate

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French pontife, from Latin pontifex. Doublet of pontifex.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p?nt?f/

Noun

pontiff (plural pontiffs)

1. A bishop of the early Church; now specifically, the Pope. [from 16th c.]
   • 2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge 2008, p. 46:

     In several respects John turned out to be an unexpected figure as supreme pontiff.

2. (figuratively) Any chief figure or leader of a religion. [from 16th c.]
3. (historical) A pontifex. [from 17th c.]

Related terms

• pontificate

Translations

References

• pontiff at OneLook Dictionary Search
• pontiff in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “pontiff”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p?n?t?f?k?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /p??n?t?f?k?t/

Noun

pontificate (plural pontificates)

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

Translations

Etymology 2

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p?n?t?f?ke?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /p??n?t?f?ke?t/

Verb

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

1. (intransitive) To preside as a bishop, especially at mass.
2. (intransitive) To act like a pontiff; to express one's position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if they were absolutely correct.
3. (intransitive) To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length.

Translations

Italian

Verb

pontificate

1. second-person plural present indicative of pontificare
2. second-person plural imperative of pontificare
3. feminine plural of pontificato