pontificalis Latin · revision 36380

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=la pontifex}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [pɔn.tɪ.fɪˈkaː.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [pon.ti.fiˈkaː.lis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pontificālis''' (neuter pontificāle); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|pontifex|-ālis|t1=pontiff, priest]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan treats that noun under [[m|la|pōns|t=bridge]] and says that most scholars agree it should be read as “bridge-maker”, in the sense of one who mediates between gods and men.^(de Vaan 2008) He traces ⟨pōns⟩ to [[itc-pro|*pont-]] and [[ine-pro|*pónt-h₁-s|t=road]], the meaning having developed from road to bridge in Latin.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and the TLL date it from Varro,^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) for what belongs to a pontifex or to the college of pontifices.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In classical Latin it is used of what belongs to the pontifices or to the chief pontiff:^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero writes of pontifical authority, Livy of the pontiffs' insignia, and Ovid of the honour of the chief pontiff.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) Suetonius calls ''lūdī pontificālēs'' the games the chief pontiff gave when he took office.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ In Christian Latin it came to mean episcopal and then papal.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995) The neuter plural ''pontificālia'' named a bishop's ceremonial vestments,^(Niermeyer 1976) and in Ecclesiastical Latin things belonging to pontifical ceremonies.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero writes of pontifical authority.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy writes of the pontiffs' insignia.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius mentions the games given by the chief pontiff on taking office.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Belonging to a [[pontifex]] or the college of pontifices, [[m|en|pontifical]]; of the chief pontiff.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|episcopal|alt=Episcopal]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin, Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Of the Pope, [[m|en|papal]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(neuter plural as noun, Medieval Latin)'' ''pontificālia'': a bishop's ceremonial vestments, [[m|en|pontificals]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pontificius]]

+ * [[pōns]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}