pontifical

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /pɑːnˈtɪfɪkəl/ UK /pɒnˈtɪfɪkəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #100031

Meanings

1

adj
pompously self-important or pretentiously dogmatic

He delivered a pontifical lecture on a subject he had barely studied.
2

adj
relating to a pope, bishop, pontiff, or the ceremonies performed by one

The archive preserves pontifical decrees and records of episcopal ceremonies.
3

noun
usually plural: the ceremonial vestments and insignia worn by a bishop

The bishop entered in full pontificals for the solemn service.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · pompously self-important or... pompousself-importantdogmatic doctrinaire

2 adj · relating to a pope, bishop,... papal episcopalapostolic

3 noun · usually plural: the... episcopal vestmentsinsignia

Opposites

humble modest

Word family

Derived forms pontificalitypontifically

Related forms pontiff pontificate papacy bishop

Etymology

From Latin pontificalis ("of a pontiff or high priest"), from pontific-, pontifex. The ecclesiastical sense produced the figurative meanings "pompous" and "pretentiously authoritative."

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# pontifical

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /pɑːnˈtɪfɪkəl/
**IPA (UK):** /pɒnˈtɪfɪkəl/
**Frequency rank:** 100031

## Meanings
1. pompously self-important or pretentiously dogmatic
2. relating to a pope, bishop, pontiff, or the ceremonies performed by one
3. usually plural: the ceremonial vestments and insignia worn by a bishop

## Examples
- He delivered a pontifical lecture on a subject he had barely studied.
- The archive preserves pontifical decrees and records of episcopal ceremonies.
- The bishop entered in full pontificals for the solemn service.

## Synonyms
- pompous
- self-important
- dogmatic
- papal
- episcopal

## Antonyms
- humble
- modest

## Derived Forms
- pontificality
- pontifically

## Related Forms
- pontiff
- pontificate
- papacy
- bishop

## Etymology
From Latin pontificalis ("of a pontiff or high priest"), from pontific-, pontifex. The ecclesiastical sense produced the figurative meanings "pompous" and "pretentiously authoritative."

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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