pontificate
English
WOTD – 12 September 2006
Etymology 1
From Latin pontificatus, from pontifex (“high priest”), from pons (“bridge”) + facere (“make”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /pɒnˈtɪfɪkət/
- (US) IPA(key): /pɑːnˈtɪfɪkət/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file)
Translations
state of a pontifex
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Etymology 2
From the past participle stem of mediaeval Latin pontificare (“pontificate”), from Latin pontifex (“high priest”), from pons (“bridge”) + facere (“make”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /pɒnˈtɪfɪkeɪt/
- (US) IPA(key): /pɑːnˈtɪfɪkeɪt/
Audio (US) (file)
Verb
pontificate (third-person singular simple present pontificates, present participle pontificating, simple past and past participle pontificated)
- (intransitive) To preside as a bishop, especially at mass.
- (intransitive) To act like a pontiff; to express one’s position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if they were absolutely correct.
- (intransitive) To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length.
- 2007, New York Times
- During a policy discussion awhile 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.
- 2007, New York Times
Translations
preside as a bishop
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speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner
Italian
Verb
pontificate
- second-person plural present indicative of pontificare
- second-person plural imperative of pontificare
- feminine plural of pontificato
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