— pontifically , adv.
/pon tif"i keuhl/ , adj.
1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a pontiff; papal.
2. pompous, dogmatic, or pretentious: to resent someone's pontifical manner.
n.
3. (in the Western Church) a book containing the forms for the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies to be performed by bishops.
4. pontificals , the vestments and other insignia of a pontiff, esp. a bishop.
[ 1350-1400; ME pontificalis, equiv. to pontific- (s. of pontifex ) PONTIFEX + -alis -AL 1 ]