pontificate

From Latin pontificatus, from pontifex (“high priest”), from pons (“bridge”) + facere (“make”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pɒnˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/
• (US) IPA^(key): /pɔnˈtɪf.ə.kət/, /pɔnˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/

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pontificate (plural pontificates)

1. The status or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.

From the past participle stem of mediaeval Latin pontificare (“pontificate”), from Latin pontifex (“high priest”), from pons (“bridge”) + facere (“make”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pɒnˈtɪf.ɪ.keɪt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /pɔnˈtɪf.ə.keɪt/, /pɔnˈtɪf.ɪ.keɪt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

pontificate (third-person singular simple present pontificates, present participle pontificating, simple past and past participle pontificated)

1. (intransitive) To preside as a bishop, especially at mass.
2. (intransitive) To act like a pontiff; to express one's position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if they were absolutely correct.
3. (intransitive) To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length.
   • 2007 May 13, Patrick Healy, “In New Role, Senator Clinton’s Strategist in Chief”, in 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.

   • 2014 January 16, Jocelyn Samara D., Rain (webcomic), Comic 482 - Blood:

     "Do you hear that, Ryan? Your mommy is being a pontificating windbag."

pontificate

1. inflection of pontificare:
   1. second-person plural present indicative
   2. second-person plural imperative

pontificate f pl

1. feminine plural of pontificato

pontificate

1. second-person singular voseo imperative of pontificar combined with te