Skip to main content

Word of the Day – Pontificate

By September 10, 2025Word of the Day

Pontificate (verb)

pon-tif-i-kayt

To speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner. From the original definition, which is to perform the office or duties of a pontiff.

First recorded in 1400–50. The noun is from Latin pontificātus, derivative of pontific- (stem of pontifex ) + -ātus noun suffix denoting office or function; pontifex, -ate. The verb is from Medieval Latin pontificātus, past participle of pontificāre “to be an ecclesiastic”; -ate.

Example sentences

“He did like to pontificate and waste everyone’s time prattling on.”

Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library to become a graphic novel

| Adaptations, News | No Comments
The Midnight Library, a novel from bestselling author Matt Haig, is set to be reimagined in graphic novel form. The beautifully illustrated graphic novel will be adapted by Fred Fordham,…

Word of the Day – Xenia

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Word of the Day - Xenia Ξενία (noun) (Greek) ksee-nee-a

Word of the Day – Bibliotaph

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Word of the Day - Bibliotaph (noun) bib-lee-oh-taf

Word of the Day – Nemophilist

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Word of the Day - Nemophilist (noun) nem-of-il-ist

Word of the Day – Mullah

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Word of the Day - Mullah (noun) mu-lah

Billie Eilish in talks to star in Bell Jar adaptation

| Adaptations, News | No Comments
Singer-songwriter, Billie Eilish, is reportedly in talks to make her film acting début in a new adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s novel, The Bell Jar. Ten-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar…

Word of the Day – Meraki

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Meraki (Μεράκι) (Greek) (noun) me-rah-kee To do something with soul, creativity, and love. When someone cooks with meraki, builds with meraki, writes with meraki, they’ve poured themselves into it. Derived…

Word of the Day Analphabetic

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Word of the Day - Analphabetic (noun) an-alfa-bet-ik

Word of the Day – Effulgently

| Word of the Day | No Comments
Word of the Day - Effulgently (adverb) ef-ul-junt-lee