PONTIF'ICATE, noun [Latin pontificatus.] The state or dignity of a high priest; particularly, the office or dignity of the pope. He turned hermit in the view of being advanced to the pontificate 1. The reign of a pope. Painting, sculpture and architecture may all recover themselves under the present pontificate
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI