pontificate
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology 1
From Latin pontificatus, from pontifex (“bridge builder”), from pons (“bridge”) + facere (“make”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
pontificate (plural pontificates)
- The state or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.
[edit] Translations
state of a pontifex
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[edit] Etymology 2
From the past participle stem of mediaeval Latin pontificare (“pontificate”), from Latin pontifex (“bridge builder”), from pons (“bridge”) + facere (“make”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] 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 it 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
[edit] Translations
preside as a bishop
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act like a pontiff
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speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner
[edit] Italian
[edit] Verb
pontificate
- second-person plural present indicative of pontificare
- second-person plural imperative of pontificare
- Feminine plural of pontificato
