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Definition of Pontificate
1. Noun. The government of the Roman Catholic Church.
Generic synonyms: Authorities, Government, Regime
Member holonyms: Bishop Of Rome, Catholic Pope, Holy Father, Pontiff, Pope, Roman Catholic Pope, Vicar Of Christ
2. Verb. Administer a pontifical office.
3. Verb. Talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner. "The new professor always pontificates"
Definition of Pontificate
1. n. The state or dignity of a high priest; specifically, the office of the pope.
2. v. i. To perform the duty of a pontiff.
Definition of Pontificate
1. Noun. The state or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex. ¹
2. Verb. (intransitive) To preside as a bishop, especially at mass. ¹
3. Verb. (intransitive) To act like a pontiff; to express one’s position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if it were absolutely correct. ¹
4. Verb. (intransitive) To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Pontificate
1. [v -CATED, -CATING, -CATES]
Medical Definition of Pontificate
1. To perform the duty of a pontiff. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Pontificate
Literary usage of Pontificate
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. Manual of Universal Church History by Johannes Baptist Alzog (1878)
"THE pontificate OF PIUS IX. § 411. His Political Activity. Pie IX. ... Pius IX.
as Pope and King, according to the Acts of his pontificate, Vienna, 1865. ..."
2. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"Of the extent Sanction. to which the latter was becoming more and more a political
institution we have striking evidence in the brief pontificate of ..."
3. Italy and Her Invaders by Thomas Hodgkin (1885)
"After sixteen years, the eventful pontificate of Death of Symmachus came to an end.
... The chief events of the pontificate of Hormisdas pontificate have ..."
4. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann (1913)
"The Catholic hierarchy has greatly increased in numbers during these first years
of the pontificate of Pius X. in which twenty-eight new dioceses have been ..."
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