pontifical
3
9.7
- adjective
- /pɒnˈtɪfɪkəl/
- Formal
:
pontificio
- The bishop led a pontifical ceremony to bless the new church.
- Pontifical Council
- Pontifical Commission
- Pontifical Institute
Examples
-
To build on Bosio's exploratory work, the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology was founded in 1852.
Academic text (2008) -
The Pope will not be saying the Pontifical High Mass in the Old Rite.
Blog text (20) -
Could be a pontifical high mass.
-
My works are under examination by a special pontifical commission.
-
How might it have reached the pontifical treasury?
Academic text (2005) -
Dear Holy Father, please just once attend the Pontifical Traditional Latin Mass.
Blog text (10) -
Except for the 2006 statement by the Pontifical Council for Culture, Catholic social teaching never mentions a right to beauty.
Academic text (2010) -
The solemn pontifical Mass celebrated by the pope in St. Peter's has some peculiar ceremonies...
Blog text (30) -
When Paul VI established the Pontifical Commission Justitia et Pax, that body in turn spawned the birth of many justice and peace initiatives.
Academic text (2008) -
Mary Boys traces her own formative Catholic influences, then discusses the work of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and that of Catholic biblical scholars.
Academic text (2014)
Synonyms
23
7.9
Relating to the pope or his office
5
9.4
Relating to the pope or his authority in the Catholic Church
1
8.6
Relating to bishops and how they lead a church
Relating to the pope or to the pope's authority
How Ecclesiastical
23
7.9
- Formal
3
9.7
- Formal
12
9.9
∞
2.7
18
4.9
143
4.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Pontifical comes from the Latin word pontifex, which meant 'bridge-builder' from pons 'bridge'. A priest was seen as a 'bridge' between people and the gods, so pontifical now describes things connected with a bishop or the pope.