Etymograph

English

pontifical

Pontifical comes from Latin pontifex ‘an ancient Roman high priest, state minister,…’, from Proto-Indo-European *póntoh₁s ‘path’, and ultimately from *pent-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pent-‘path’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*póntoh₁s‘path’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*pontsreconstructed
  4. Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*pontifaksreconstructed
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpontifex‘an ancient Roman high priest, state minister, pontiff’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpontificālis
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1667pontifical

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pent-‘path’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*póntoh₁s‘path’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*pontsreconstructed
  4. Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*pontifaksreconstructed
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpontifex‘an ancient Roman high priest, state minister, pontiff’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpontificālis
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1667pontifical

Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton, Book IX: “Now had they brought the work by wondrous art…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *pent- ‘path’

find, path, patrol, pad, faze, 16 more

through Proto-Indo-European *póntoh₁s ‘path’

sputnik, 8 more

through Proto-Italic *ponts

pons, pontoon, 7 more

Today it means

adj Of or pertaining to a bishop; episcopal.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pent- / pontifical

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