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Pontiff

name, noun

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname transferred from the nickname.
Noun
  1. 1
    A member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion, the College of Pontiffs; a pontifex. Ancient-Rome, historical
  2. 2
    the head of the Roman Catholic Church wordnet
  3. 3
    A bishop of the early Church; now specifically, the Pope.

    "In several respects John turned out to be an unexpected figure as supreme pontiff."

  4. 4
    Any chief figure or leader of a religion. figuratively

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Middle French pontife m, from Latin pontifex m. Doublet of pontifex.

Etymology 2

From pontiff, a nickname for someone who had played the role of the pope in a medieval religious play, or for a vain and pompous person.

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