0%

pontifical

pon·tif·i·cal
P p

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [pon-tif-i-kuh l]
    • /pɒnˈtɪf ɪ kəl/
    • /pɔnˈtɪfɪkəl/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [pon-tif-i-kuh l]
    • /pɒnˈtɪf ɪ kəl/

Definitions of pontifical word

  • adjective pontifical of, relating to, or characteristic of a pontiff; papal. 1
  • adjective pontifical pompous, dogmatic, or pretentious: to resent someone's pontifical manner. 1
  • noun pontifical (in the Western Church) a book containing the forms for the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies to be performed by bishops. 1
  • noun pontifical pontificals, the vestments and other insignia of a pontiff, especially a bishop. 1
  • adjective pontifical papal, relating to a pope 1
  • adjective pontifical of, relating to, or characteristic of a pontiff, the pope, or a bishop 0

Information block about the term

Origin of pontifical

First appearance:

before 1350
One of the 20% oldest English words
1350-1400; Middle English < Latin pontificālis, equivalent to pontific- (stem of pontifex) pontifex + -ālis -al1

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Pontifical

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

pontifical popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 81% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

pontifical usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for pontifical

adj pontifical

  • apostolic — Apostolic means belonging or relating to a Christian religious leader, especially the Pope.
  • born-again — A born-again Christian is a person who has become an evangelical Christian as a result of a religious experience.
  • churchgoing — a person who goes to church, especially habitually.
  • clerical — Clerical jobs, skills, and workers are concerned with work that is done in an office.
  • deistic — a person who believes in deism.

noun pontifical

  • ablegate — a papal envoy who has important duties abroad such as bringing a cardinal's insignia to him when he has just been appointed, or taking a message to a sovereign
  • nuncio — a diplomatic representative of the pope at a foreign court or capital: equal in status to an ambassador.

adjective pontifical

  • episcopal — Of a bishop or bishops.
  • judgelike — Resembling a judge or some aspect of one.
  • judicial — pertaining to judgment in courts of justice or to the administration of justice: judicial proceedings; the judicial system.
  • juridical — of or relating to the administration of justice.
  • jurisdictional — the right, power, or authority to administer justice by hearing and determining controversies.

adverb pontifical

  • grandiosely — affectedly grand or important; pompous: grandiose words.

Top questions with pontifical

  • what is the pontifical blessing called?
  • what does pontifical mean?

See also

Matching words

Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?