Main Entry: ¹pon·tif·i·cal

Pronunciation: \pän-ˈti-fi-kəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin pontificale, from neuter of pontificalis

Date: 14th century

1 : episcopal attire; specifically : the insignia of the episcopal order worn by a prelate when celebrating a pontifical mass —usually used in plural
2 : a book containing the forms for sacraments and rites performed by a bishop