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| '''Pontiff''' or '''Pontificate''' |
'''Pontiff''' or '''Pontificate''' was a title of certain religious leaders, now used principally to refer to the ]. | ||
| ==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
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| ==Usage== | ==Usage== | ||
| Pontiffs were originally simply chiefs or high priests of any religion; thus writers from the 16th through to the 18th centuries referred equally to Christian pontiffs (]s) and "Mahometan <nowiki>]<nowiki>]</nowiki> Pontiffs" (]s). Over time, however, the term became associated with the highest religious authority in |
Pontiffs were originally simply chiefs or high priests of any religion; thus writers from the 16th through to the 18th centuries referred equally to Christian pontiffs (]s) and "Mahometan <nowiki>]<nowiki>]</nowiki> Pontiffs" (]s). Over time, however, the term became associated with the highest religious authority in ] — the Pope. It was often modified by an adjective - for instance, "Sovereign Pontiff" or "Roman Pontiff" - to distinguish from different pontiffs. <ref name="oed" /> In the modern era, the modifying adjective is usually dropped, with the term being used exclusively to refer to the Pope. | ||
| == References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 02:44, 17 December 2007
Pontiff or Pontificate was a title of certain religious leaders, now used principally to refer to the Pope.
Etymology
The term derives from the French word pontife, from the Latin pontifex, a title used for high priests of the Roman Empire. The word pontifex is commonly held to derive from the Latin root words pons, "bridge" + facere, "to do" or "to make", with a literal meaning of "bridge-builder". This, however, is disputed - it may be only a folk etymology . See Pontifex for more details on the original Roman term.
Usage
Pontiffs were originally simply chiefs or high priests of any religion; thus writers from the 16th through to the 18th centuries referred equally to Christian pontiffs (bishops) and "Mahometan Pontiffs" (caliphs). Over time, however, the term became associated with the highest religious authority in Catholic Church — the Pope. It was often modified by an adjective - for instance, "Sovereign Pontiff" or "Roman Pontiff" - to distinguish from different pontiffs. In the modern era, the modifying adjective is usually dropped, with the term being used exclusively to refer to the Pope.