pontifical: Meaning and Definition of

pon•tif•i•cal

Pronunciation: (pon-tif'i-kul), [key]
— adj.
  1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a pontiff; papal.
  2. pompous, dogmatic, or pretentious: to resent someone's pontifical manner.
—n.
  1. (in the Western Church) a book containing the forms for the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies to be performed by bishops.
  2. the vestments and other insignia of a pontiff, esp. a bishop.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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