pope

¹

[ pohp ]

noun

1. (often initial capital letter) the bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church.
2. (in the early Christian church) a bishop.
3. a person considered as having or assuming authority or a position similar to that of the Roman Catholic pope.
4. the title of the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria.
5. Eastern Church.
   1. the Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria.
   2. (in certain churches) a parish priest.

Pope

²

[ pohp ]

noun

1. Alexander, 1688–1744, English poet.
2. John, 1822–92, Union general in the U.S. Civil War.
3. John Russell, 1874–1937, U.S. architect.

Popé

³

[ poh-pey ]

noun

1. died 1690?, Pueblo medicine man: led rebellion against the Spanish 1680.

pope

¹

/ pəʊp /

noun

1. See ruffe
   another name for ruffe

Pope

²

/ pəʊp /

noun

1. PopeAlexander16881744MEnglishWRITING: poetWRITING: satirist Alexander. 1688–1744, English poet, regarded as the most brilliant satirist of the Augustan period, esp with his Imitations of Horace (1733–38). His technical virtuosity is most evident in The Rape of the Lock (1712–14). Other works include The Dunciad (1728; 1742), the Moral Essays (1731–35), and An Essay on Man (1733–34)

pope

³

/ pəʊp /

noun

1. often capital the bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church papal
2. Eastern Orthodox Church
   1. a title sometimes given to a parish priest
   2. a title sometimes given to the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria
3. a person assuming or having a status or authority resembling that of a pope

pope

1. The head of the Roman Catholic Church . The pope is believed by his church to be the successor to the Apostle Peter . He is bishop of Rome and lives in a tiny nation within Rome called the Vatican . Catholics believe that when the pope speaks officially on matters of faith and morals, he speaks infallibly ( see papal infallibility ). ( See also John XXIII and John Paul II .)

Other Words From

• popeless adjective
• popelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pope¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English pāpa < Late Latin: bishop, pope < Late Greek pápas bishop, priest, variant of páppas father; papa

Word History and Origins

Origin of pope¹

Old English papa, from Church Latin: bishop, esp of Rome, from Late Greek papas father-in-God, from Greek pappas father

Example Sentences

Küng noted that the doctrine had been adopted only in 1870 and that there were numerous historical examples of popes making foolish, ignorant and morally dubious decisions.

From Washington Post

For centuries, he said, the Vatican had neglected its spiritual mission as it pursued the accumulation of power and wealth, with the pope reigning as an absolute monarch.

From Washington Post

The Vatican’s tone towards LGBTQ-specific issues has softened since Francis became pope in 2013.

From Washington Blade

Three players union executives met with the pope, as did players Kyle Korver, Sterling Brown, Marco Belinelli, Anthony Tolliver and Jonathan Isaac.

From Washington Post

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the pope has eschewed mask-wearing protocols — and apparently asked visitors to do the same.

From Washington Post

It is also important to avoid using the pope as part of a marketing strategy.

From The Daily Beast

Lee and Coogan did briefly meet with the pope, with pictures to prove it, but no one at the Vatican officially screened the film.

From The Daily Beast

ROME — What does it take for a Hollywood A-lister to get a private audience with Pope Francis?

From The Daily Beast

After the screening, Jolie, who says she renewed her faith in “the divine” during filming, met briefly with the pope.

From The Daily Beast

In addition to visiting the tomb of John Paul, who died of natural causes in 2005, Agca asked to see his successor, Pope Francis.

From The Daily Beast

Insurrectionary movements at Rome in consequence of the pope's refusal to declare war against Austria.

From Project Gutenberg

In the course of time, absolution for the sacrilege was obtained from the Pope; but my father could never obtain it from himself.

From Project Gutenberg

The gracious message then was, that in such a case he should be represented to the Pope, and possibly might be pardoned.

From Project Gutenberg

He laid claim to some of the territories of the pope, by whom he was excommunicated and deposed.

From Project Gutenberg

Leo II, pope, died; an able and resolute pontiff; established the kiss of peace at the mass, and the use of holy water.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• pontiff