pontiff
A member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion, the…A member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion, the College of Pontiffs; a pontifex.
» With Caesar as the greatest pontiff, the Romans obtained a new calendar.
Meaning
3 senses(Ancient Rome, historical)A member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion, the College of Pontiffs; a pontifex.
A bishop of the early Church; now specifically, the Pope.
Pontifex
понти́фикpontífik
понти́фікpontýfik
(figuratively)Any chief figure or leader of a religion.
- the head of the Roman Catholic Church
Examples
2 sentencesWith Caesar as the greatest pontiff, the Romans obtained a new calendar.
The pontiff utilized 21st-century technology and delivered the prayer via livestream by Vatican News and on screens in Saint Peter's Square.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Borrowed from Middle French pontife m, from Latin pontifex m. Doublet of pontifex.Borrowed from Middle French pontife m, from Latin pontifex m. Doublet of pontifex.
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Forms
plural: pontiffsSynonyms
6 synonyms- the head of the Roman Catholic Church:popeCatholic PopeRoman Catholic PopeHoly FatherVicar of ChristBishop of Rome