I. pän-ˈti-fi-kət, -ˌkāt noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin pontificatus, from pontific-, pontifex
Date: 15th century
: the state, office, or term of office of a pontiff
II. pän-ˈti-fə-ˌkāt intransitive verb
( -cat·ed ; -cat·ing )
Etymology: Medieval Latin pontificatus, past participle of pontificare, from Latin pontific-, pontifex
Date: 1818
1.
a. : to officiate as a pontiff
b. : to celebrate pontifical mass
2. : to speak or express opinions in a pompous or dogmatic way
• pon·tif·i·ca·tion (ˌ)pän-ˌti-fə-ˈkā-shən noun
• pon·tif·i·ca·tor -ˌkā-tər noun