pontifex
Americannoun
-
pontifices
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pontifex
1570–80; < Latin: apparently literally, path-maker, equivalent to ponti- (stem of pōns ) bridge, probably originally, path ( see pons) + -fec- (combining form of facere to make) + -s nominative singular ending; the literal application is unclear
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The new pontifex maximus has much work ahead of him to wrangle the faithful into unity.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2025
If he sometimes sounds like a pontifex maximus, he generally talks neither down nor with false humility.
From Time Magazine Archive
He held the title of pontifex maximus and consequently was at the head of the official pagan worship.
From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Arthur Edward Romilly Boak
Again, the master of ceremonies at papal mass prompts the pontiff at each stage of the function as did his predecessors for Antoninus Pius or Marcus Aurelius when they too officiated as pontifex maximus.
From Rome by Hope Malleson
And the press, bad or good, is the high pontifex of our times; more than any other social agency whatever, the press ought, at least, to be manly, elevated, indomitable, vigilant and straight-forward.
From Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863 by Adam G. de Gurowski, Count
In order to get some idea of the work of the pontifices 274at this time, let us consider one or two of these difficulties and problems.
From The Religious Experience of the Roman People From the Earliest Times to the Age of Augustus by W. Warde Fowler
That century is also the age in which the pontifices were probably most active in drawing up comprecationes; see below, p.
From The Religious Experience of the Roman People From the Earliest Times to the Age of Augustus by W. Warde Fowler
On the former date, the flamen Quirinalis, assisted by the vestals, offered sacrifice, and the pontifices presided at horse and chariot races in the circus.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 2 "Constantine Pavlovich" to "Convention" by Various
Besides decreeing, no doubt with the sanction of the pontifices, certain ordinary measures, the Senate referred the matter to the decemviri and the Sibylline 318books.
From The Religious Experience of the Roman People From the Earliest Times to the Age of Augustus by W. Warde Fowler
When Cicero was recalled the question came before the pontifices, who decided that the consecration was not valid unless it had been done by the "order of the people."
From The Letters of Cicero, Volume 1 The Whole Extant Correspodence in Chronological Order by Evelyn S. Shuckburgh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
