pontificate
English · Italiano
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
pontificate¹
- /pɒnˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/ UK
- /pɔnˈtɪf.ə.kət/ US
- /pɔnˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/ US
Where it comes from
From Latin pontificatus, from pontifex (“high priest”), from pons (“bridge”) + facere (“make”).
noun pontificates
- The status or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.
pontificate²
- /pɒnˈtɪf.ɪ.keɪt/ UK
- /pɔnˈtɪf.ə.keɪt/ US
- /pɔnˈtɪf.ɪ.keɪt/ US
Where it comes from
From the past participle stem of Medieval Latin pontificō, from Latin pontifex (“high priest”), from pons (“bridge”) + facere (“make”).
verb pontificates · pontificating · pontificated
- To preside as a bishop, especially at mass.
- To act like a pontiff; to express one's position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if they were absolutely correct.
- To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length. 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.
Translations
Every language
noun state of a pontifex
| Español | pontificado |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 司教の職 shikyō no shoku |
| Français | pontificat |
| Deutsch | Pontifikat |
| Italiano | pontificato |
| Русский | понтифика́т pontifikát |
verb preside as a bishop
| Español | pontificar |
|---|---|
| Français | pontifier |
| Italiano | pontificare |
verb act like a pontiff
| Español | pontificar |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 説教する sekkyō-suru |
| Français | pontifier |
| Italiano | pontificare |
verb speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner
| Español | sentar cátedra, pontificar, poner cátedra |
|---|---|
| Français | pontifier |
| Italiano | pontificare |
Talk about this word "pontificate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/pontificate. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. pontificate. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/pontificate "pontificate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/pontificate.Cite this
@misc{pontificate_2026,
title = {pontificate},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/pontificate},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
