pontificate

¹pon·tif·i·cate

noun \pän-ˈti-fi-kət, -ˌkāt\

Definition of PONTIFICATE

: the state, office, or term of office of a pontiff

Examples of PONTIFICATE

1. He was elected to the pontificate last year.
2. during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II

Origin of PONTIFICATE

Middle English, from Latin pontificatus, from pontific-, pontifex

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with PONTIFICATE

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