Dictionary

pontifex en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɒn.tɪˌfɛks/ (General-American)
• /ˈpɒn.təˌfɛks/ (General-American)

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin pontifex. Doublet of pontiff.

Meanings

1. (historical) A pontiff, state minister, or high priest, in Ancient Rome.
   • Every traditional civilization is characterized by the presence of beings who […] embody within the temporal order the living and efficacious presence of a power that comes from above. One of these types of beings is the pontifex, according to the inner meaning of the word and according to the original value of the function that he exercised. 1995, Julius Evola, “Regality”, in Guido Stucco, transl., Revolt against the Modern World, Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions International, translation of Rivolta contro il mondo moderno, →ISBN, page 7:

Forms