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pontificate

noun

  1. Vatican City form of government
L325705 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. to speak in a dogmatic or pompous manner
L385 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /pɒnˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/ / /pɔnˈtɪf.ə.kət/ / /pɔnˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/ / /pɒnˈtɪf.ɪ.keɪt/ / /pɔnˈtɪf.ə.keɪt/ / /pɔnˈtɪf.ɪ.keɪt/

noun

Etymology: From Latin pontificatus, from pontifex (“high priest”), from pons (“bridge”) + facere (“make”).

  1. The status or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.

verb

Etymology: From the past participle stem of Medieval Latin pontificō, from Latin pontifex (“high priest”), from pons (“bridge”) + facere (“make”).

  1. To preside as a bishop, especially at mass.
  2. To act like a pontiff; to express one's position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if they were absolutely correct.
  3. To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length.

    During a policy discussion awhile^([sic]) back about New York issues, when Mr. Clinton began to pontificate, she told him that he did not exactly know what he was talking about and to hush up.

    "Do you hear that, Ryan? Your mommy is being a pontificating windbag."