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pontifical
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun pontifical has 1 sense
- pontifical(n = noun.artifact) Array - the vestments and other insignia of a pontiff (especially a bishop); Array is a kind of vestment
Adjective pontifical has 3 senses
- pontifical(a = adj.pert) apostolic, apostolical, papal - proceeding from or ordered by or subject to a pope or the papacy regarded as the successor of the Apostles; "papal dispensation" Derived form noun pontiff1
- pontifical(a = adj.pert) episcopal - denoting or governed by or relating to a bishop or bishops; Array
- pontifical(s = adj.all) grandiloquent, overblown, pompous, portentous - puffed up with vanity; "a grandiloquent and boastful manner"; "overblown oratory"; "a pompous speech"; "pseudo-scientific gobbledygook and pontifical hooey"
CIDE DICTIONARY
pontifical, a. [L. pontificalis: cf. F. pontifical. See Pontiff.].
- Of or pertaining to a pontiff, or high priest; as, pontifical authority; hence, belonging to the pope; papal. [1913 Webster]
- Of or pertaining to the building of bridges. [1913 Webster]"Now had they brought the work by wondrous art
Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock
Over the vexed abyss." [1913 Webster]
pontifical, n. [F.].
- A book containing the offices, or formulas, used by a pontiff. South. [1913 Webster]
- The dress and ornaments of a pontiff. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
pontifical, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 RC Ch. of or befitting a pontiff; papal.
2 pompously dogmatic; with an attitude of infallibility.
--n.
1 an office-book of the Western Church containing rites to be performed by the Pope or bishops.
2 (in pl.) the vestments and insignia of a bishop, cardinal, or abbot.
--adj.
1 RC Ch. of or befitting a pontiff; papal.
2 pompously dogmatic; with an attitude of infallibility.
--n.
1 an office-book of the Western Church containing rites to be performed by the Pope or bishops.
2 (in pl.) the vestments and insignia of a bishop, cardinal, or abbot.
Idiom
pontifical mass a high mass, usu. celebrated by a cardinal, bishop, etc.
Derivative
pontifically adv.
Etymology
ME f. F pontifical or L pontificalis (as PONTIFEX)
THESAURUS
pontifical
apostolic, arrogant, bigoted, bloated, bombastic, conceited, doctrinaire, doctrinarian, dogmatic, dogmatizing, flatulent, formal, gassy, grandiloquent, important, inflated, magisterial, opinionated, opinionative, opinioned, oracular, papal, papish, papist, papistic, peremptory, pompous, popish, positive, positivistic, pronunciative, puffy, self-important, self-opinionated, self-opinioned, solemn, stilted, stuffy, swollen, tumid, turgidROGET THESAURUS
pontifical
Churchdom
N church, churchdom, ministry, apostleship, priesthood, prelacy, hierarch, church government, christendom, pale of the church, clericalism, sacerdotalism, episcopalianism, ultramontanism, theocracy, ecclesiology, ecclesiologist, priestcraft, odium theologicum, monachism, monachy, monasticism, monkhood, pontificate, primacy, archbishopric, archiepiscopacy, prelacy, bishopric, bishopdom, episcopate, episcopacy, see, diocese, deanery, stall, canonry, canonicate, prebend, prebendaryship, benefice, incumbency, glebe, advowson, living, cure, rectorship, vicariate, vicarship, deaconry, deaconship, curacy, chaplain, chaplaincy, chaplainship, cardinalate, cardinalship, abbacy, presbytery, holy orders, ordination, institution, consecration, induction, reading in, preferment, translation, presentation, popedom, the Vatican, the apostolic see, religious sects, council, conclave, convocation, synod, consistory, chapter, vestry, sanhedrim, conge d'elire, ecclesiastical courts, consistorial court, court of Arches, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, clerical, sacerdotal, priestly, prelatical, pastoral, ministerial, capitular, theocratic, hierarchical, archiepiscopal, episcopal, episcopalian, canonical, monastic, monachal, monkish, abbatial, abbatical, Anglican, pontifical, papal, apostolic, Roman, Popish, ultramontane, priest-ridden.
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