pontificate

Meanings

Plural: pontificates

Noun

• the government of the Roman Catholic Church
• The status or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.

Verb

• administer a pontifical office
• talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner
  • "The new professor always pontificates"
• To preside as a bishop, especially at mass.
• To act like a pontiff; to express one's position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if they were absolutely correct.
• To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length.

Synonyms

papacy