pontifex

Latin

Etymology

According to the scholarly consensus, a compound originally meaning "bridge-maker", i.e. "one who negotiates between gods and men". From pōns (“bridge”) + (combining form of) faciō (“to build, make”).

Noun

pontifex (genitive pontificis); m, third declension

1. a high priest in ancient Rome
2. a pontiff or bishop of the early Christian church, now specifically the Pope

Inflection

Number	Singular	Plural
nominative	pontifex	pontificēs
genitive	pontificis	pontificum
dative	pontificī	pontificibus
accusative	pontificem	pontificēs
ablative	pontifice	pontificibus
vocative	pontifex	pontificēs

Derived terms

• pontificālis
• pontificātus
• pontificium
• pontificius

Descendants

• English: pontiff
• Russian: понтифик (pontífik) m.
• Spanish: pontífice

References

• Michiel de Vaan, Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Brill, 2008, page 480

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Slovak

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpo̞ntife̞ks/

Proper noun

pontifex m.

1. a high priest in ancient Rome
2. a pontiff or bishop of the early Christian church, now specifically the Pope

Declension

    declension of pontifex

	singular	plural
nominative	pontifex	pontifici
genitive	pontifika	pontifikov
dative	pontifikovi	pontifikom
accusative	pontifika	pontifikov
locative	pontifikovi	pontifikoch
instrumental	pontifikom	pontifikmi