pontifical

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   pompously self-important or pretentiously dogmatic

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

2. 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. 3
   noun

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

   The bishop entered in full pontificals for the solemn service.

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

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