Adjacent Words

pontiff definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the head of the Roman Catholic Church [syn: pope, Catholic Pope, Roman Catholic Pope, pontiff, Holy Father, Vicar of Christ, Bishop of Rome]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: French pontif, from Latin pontific-, pontifex Date: 1626 1. pontifex 2. bishop; specifically often capitalized pope 1

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. RC Ch. (in full sovereign or supreme pontiff) the Pope. Etymology: F pontife (as PONTIFEX)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pontiff Pon"tiff, n. [F. pontife, L. pontifex, -ficis; pons, pontis, a bridge (perhaps originally, a way, path) + facere to make. Cf. Pontoon.] A high priest. Especially: (a) One of the sacred college, in ancient Rome, which had the supreme jurisdiction over all matters of religion, at the head of which was the Pontifex Maximus. --Dr. W. Smith. (b) (Jewish Antiq.) The chief priest. (c) (R. C. Ch.) The pope.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(pontiffs) The Pontiff is the Pope. (FORMAL) The Pontiff celebrated mass in Mexico City. = Pope N-COUNT: usu the N

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. High-priest. 2. Pope, bishop of Rome, Pontifex maximus.

Moby Thesaurus

Grand Penitentiary, Holy Father, abuna, antipope, archbishop, archdeacon, archpriest, bishop, bishop coadjutor, canon, cardinal, cardinal bishop, cardinal deacon, cardinal priest, chaplain, coadjutor, curate, dean, diocesan, ecclesiarch, exarch, hierarch, high priest, metropolitan, papa, patriarch, penitentiary, pope, prebendary, prelate, primate, rector, rural dean, subdean, suffragan, vicar