pontifex

pon·ti·fex

noun \ˈpän-tə-ˌfeks\

plural pon·tif·i·ces \pän-ˈti-fə-ˌsēz\

Definition of PONTIFEX

: a member of the council of priests in ancient Rome

Origin of PONTIFEX

Latin pontific-, pontifex, from pont-, pons bridge + facere to make — more at find, do

First Known Use: circa 1580

Rhymes with PONTIFEX

belowdecks, biconvex, circumflex, Cornish rex, cross-index, Devon rex, gentle sex, googolplex, haruspex, intersex, Malcolm X, megaplex, Middlesex, multiplex, oral sex, PBX, price index, retroflex, spinifex, subindex, thumb index, unisex

pontifex

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Member of a council of priests in ancient Rome. The pontifices were responsible for administration of the jus divinum (laws concerning religious practices). There were 3 pontifices under the monarchy, but by the time of Julius Caesar the number had grown to 16, of which 1 was designated chief priest, or pontifex maximus. Also included in the collegium (college) of pontifices were the Vestal Virgins. Among the duties of the pontifices were regulation of the calendar and of expiatory rituals, consecration of temples and sacred objects, superintendence of marriage and the family, and administration of the laws of adoption and succession.