Pontiff
/ˈpɒn.tɪf/noun
A high-ranking Roman Catholic bishop, especially the pope.
Did you know?The title comes from the Roman *pontifex*, traditionally linked to *pons* (“bridge”) + *facere* (“to make”), hinting that sacred authority was once imagined as a kind of bridge between humans and the gods.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pent-
“to tread, step, or go”
Latin
Latin
pons
“bridge”
Latin
Latin
pontifex
“bridge-maker; a member of the chief Roman priestly college”
Late Latin
Latin
pontifex
“bishop, especially the pope”
Old French
Old French
pontife
“bishop, pontiff”
Middle English
English
pontif
“bishop; pope”
Modern English
English
pontiff
“the pope; a high-ranking bishop”