Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pontiff"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pontiff \Pon"tiff\, n. [F. pontife, L. pontifex, -ficis; pons,
pontis, a bridge (perhaps originally, a way, path) + facere
to make. Cf. {Pontoon}.]
A high priest. Especially:
(a) One of the sacred college, in ancient Rome, which had the
supreme jurisdiction over all matters of religion, at the
head of which was the Pontifex Maximus. --Dr. W. Smith.
(b) (Jewish Antiq.) The chief priest.
(c) (R. C. Ch.) The pope.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
pontiff
n : the head of the Roman Catholic Church [syn: {pope}, {Holy
Father}, {Vicar of Christ}]
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