Main Entry: ²pon·tif·i·cate

Pronunciation: \pän-ˈti-fə-ˌkāt\

Function: intransitive verb

Inflected Form(s): pon·tif·i·cat·ed; pon·tif·i·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