pope

pope

noun \ˈpōp\

Definition of POPE

1

often capitalized : a prelate who as bishop of Rome is the head of the Roman Catholic Church

2

: one that resembles a pope (as in authority)

3

a : the Eastern Orthodox or Coptic patriarch of Alexandria

b : a priest of an Eastern church

Examples of POPE

1. The cardinals elected a new pope.

Origin of POPE

Middle English, from Old English pāpa, from Late Latin papa, from Greek pappas, papas, title of bishops, literally, papa

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with POPE

cope, coup, dope, grope, hope, lope, mope, nope, ope, rope, scop, scope, slope, soap, stope, taupe, tope, trope

Pope

biographical name \ˈpōp\

Definition of POPE

Alexander 1688–1744 Eng. poet

— Pop·ian also Pop·ean \ˈpō-pē-ən\ adjective

Pope

biographical name

Definition of POPE

John 1822–1892 Am. gen.

pope

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Ecclesiastical title of the bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic church. In the early church, especially in the 3rd–5th century, it was a title of affectionate respect for any bishop. It is still used for the Eastern Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria and for Orthodox priests, but around the 9th century it came to be reserved in the West exclusively for the bishop of Rome. Catholic doctrine regards the pope as the successor of St. Peter the Apostle and accords him supreme jurisdiction over the church in matters of faith and morals, as well as in church discipline and government. Papal infallibility in matters of doctrine was asserted by the First Vatican Council in 1870. See also papacy, Roman Catholicism.