pontiff

  1. Noun.  A bishop of the early Church; now specifically, the Pope. (defdate, from 16th c.) .
  2. Noun.  (figuratively) Any chief figure or leader of a religion. (defdate, from 16th c.) .
  3. Noun.  (historical) A pontifex. (defdate, from 17th c.) .

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.