pontiff
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See also: Pontiff
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French pontife, from Latin pontifex. Doublet of pontifex.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpɒntɪf/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
pontiff (plural pontiffs)
- (historical, Ancient Rome) A member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion, the College of Pontiffs; a pontifex.
- A bishop of the early Church; now specifically, the Pope.
- 2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge, published 2008, page 46:
- In several respects John turned out to be an unexpected figure as supreme pontiff.
- (figuratively) Any chief figure or leader of a religion.
Related terms
Translations
pope — see also pope
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
References
- “pontiff”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- “pontiff”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “pontiff”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.