Dictionary

pontificate en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /pɔnˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/ (US)
• /pɔnˈtɪf.ə.kət/ (US)
• (Australia) audio
• /pɒnˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

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

Forms

Translations (18)

pl pontyfikat (state of a pontifex) · hu főpapi méltóság/rang/tisztség (state of a pontifex) · fi paavius (state of a pontifex) · ca pontificat (state of a pontifex) · ru понтифика́т (state of a pontifex) · ka პონტიფიკატი (state of a pontifex) · es pontificado (state of a pontifex) · sv pontifikat (state of a pontifex) · fi pontifikaatti (state of a pontifex) · fr pontificat (state of a pontifex) · nl pontificaat (state of a pontifex) · id pontifikat (state of a pontifex) · bg понтифика́т (state of a pontifex) · cs pontifikát (state of a pontifex) · ja 司教の職 (state of a pontifex) · de Pontifikat (state of a pontifex) · hu pontifikátus (state of a pontifex) · it pontificato (state of a pontifex)

pontificate en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /pɔnˈtɪf.ɪ.keɪt/ (US)
• /pɔnˈtɪf.ə.keɪt/ (US)
• /pɒnˈtɪf.ɪ.keɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

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

Meanings

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.
   • "Do you hear that, Ryan? Your mommy is being a pontificating windbag." 2014 January 16, Jocelyn Samara D., Rain (webcomic), Comic 482 - Blood:
   • During a policy discussion awhile^([sic]) back about New York issues, when Mr. Clinton began to pontificate, she told him that he did not exactly know what he was talking about and to hush up. 2007 May 13, Patrick Healy, “In New Role, Senator Clinton’s Strategist in Chief”, in New York Times:

Forms

Deriveds

pontificator · pontificatingly

Translations (23)

hu pontifikál (preside as a bishop) · ca pontificar (act like a pontiff) · mk попува (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · fi saarnata (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · es pontificar (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · it pontificare (preside as a bishop) · fr pontifier (act like a pontiff) · es sentar cátedra (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · nl orakelen (act like a pontiff) · es poner cátedra (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · nl orakelen (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · ca pontificar (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · hu kinyilatkoztat (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · ca pontificar (preside as a bishop) · it pontificare (act like a pontiff) · fr pontifier (preside as a bishop) · es pontificar (act like a pontiff) · fr pontifier (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · es pontificar (preside as a bishop) · it pontificare (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · bg попу́вам (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · tr ahkam kesmek (speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner) · ja 説教する (act like a pontiff)