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popishly

popishly

9.9
In a way like the Pope or Catholic church in ceremonies
  • adverb
  • /ˈpɒpɪʃli/
  • Slur
: de manera papista
  • The church was decorated popishly, with elaborate ornaments and candles.

Examples

  • The ceremony was conducted popishly, complete with ornate rituals.

  • They feared the ritual would be performed too popishly for their tastes.

  • He accused his rival of acting popishly during the ceremony.

  • He spoke popishly about the traditions of the Catholic Church.

  • The church was decorated popishly, with elaborate ornaments and candles.

  • He accused his rival of acting popishly during the ceremony.

  • They feared the ritual would be performed too popishly for their tastes.

Synonyms

pontifically
vspopishly
  • Formal
9.8

In a formal, ceremonial way like a pope

carries a derogatory or historical tone rather than neutral ceremony

How Catholic

popishly
  • Slur
9.9
religiously
22 3.9
secularly
1 6.3

Surface Forms

popishly positive

Morphology

popishly = popish (transparent) = pope + ish + ly

The adverb is formed regularly from the adjective 'popish' by adding '-ly', and 'popish' itself is transparently 'pope' + '-ish'.

Etymology

Popishly comes from Pope plus the ending -ish, so it literally means 'in the way of the Pope' or 'like Roman Catholic practice'. It was often used as a criticism for actions or church decorations that seemed too like Catholic ceremonies.