[Peace-discuss] AWARE

[jgeo61 at comcast.net]

Webster 9th Edition Collegiate Dictionary pg.914 "Pontificate": "to speak or express opinions in a pompous or dogmatic way" 

I stand by my usage of this word. Again, if the small group of people who want to use this list serve exclusively really need to consider creating their own venue. 

Joy George 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "C. G. Estabrook" <galliher at illinois.edu> 
To: "John W." <jbw292002 at gmail.com> 
Cc: peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net 
Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2009 9:01:41 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central 
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] AWARE 

Here's the OED pontificating, as it were-- 

[< classical Latin pontific-, pontifex Roman high priest, in post-classical 
Latin also pope (4th cent.), bishop (5th cent.; frequently from 7th cent. in 
British sources), archbishop (frequently from 8th cent. in British sources), 
apparently (following ancient etymologists) < ponti-, alternative stem of pons 
bridge (see PONS n.) + -fic-, -fex, combining form of facere to do, make (see 
FACT n.), though this may represent merely a folk etymology ... In sense 4 
chiefly used punningly or allusively with reference to the supposed etymology.] 
[...] 
4. A bridge-maker. Also fig. 
1686 J. F. G. CARERI Let. 6 Apr. in Coll. Voy. & Trav. (1732) 88/1 Jucundus on 
the Seyne two bridges laid, For which he well may Pontifex be said. Pontifex has 
here a double meaning, as signifying a bridge-maker; whereas the true 
acceptation of it is a bishop. 1834 T. CARLYLE Sartor Resartus I. xi. 28/2 Never 
perhaps since our first Bridge-builders, Sin and Death, built that stupendous 
Arch from Hell-gate to the Earth, did any Pontifex, or Pontiff, undertake such a 
task. 1877 Outl. Hist. Relig. 237 No special deity claimed the services of the 
Pontifices, the bridge- or road-makers. 1927 Jrnl. Royal Anthropol. Instit. 57 
248 Moses was a Pontifex indeed. His device, whatever it may have been, perhaps 
the choice of an interval between the floods, became a miracle. 1999 Hinduism 
Today (Nexis) 30 Apr. 25 He was a Pontifex..a man throwing bridges over 
different rivers. Vedic heritage and Greek Pagan thought, Hindu worldview and 
Germanic tradition. 

John W. wrote: 
> ... 
> Incidentally, in my own dictionary perusings and musings - to say 
> nothing of my life experience - I'm not seeing anything about a person 
> who pontificates as being a "bridge builder": 
> 
> *pon·tif·i·cate 
> * 
> (pŏn-tĭf'ĭ-kĭt, -kāt') 
> n. The office or term of office of a pontiff. 
> intr.v. (-kāt') *pon·tif·i·cat·ed*, *pon·tif·i·cat·ing*, *pon·tif·i·cates* 
> 
> 1. To express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way. 
> 2. To administer the office of a pontiff. 
> 
> 
> [Latin pontificātus, from pontifex, pontific-, /pontifex/; see * 
> pontifex*. V., from Medieval Latin pontificāre, pontificāt-, /to act as 
> an ecclesiastic/, from Latin pontifex.] 
> *pon·tif'i·ca'tion*/ n./, *pon·tif'i·ca'tor*/ n. 
> 
> / 
> 
> The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition 
> Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company. 
> Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 
> 
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