pontificallyadv.
/pɒnˈtɪfᵻkli/, U.S. /pɑnˈtɪfᵻk(ə)li/ 1. By or as a pontiff, bishop, or other high-ranking cleric, esp. the Pope; in a manner appropriate to a pontiff.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > [adverb]
pontificallya1475
prelatically1641
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > bishop > [adverb]
pontificallya1475
bishoplikea1575
pontificially1632
episcopally1782
a1475 Revelations St. Birgitta (Garrett) (1929) 42 (MED) I see..Petre the apostle arayed pontifically.
a1486 Coronation Kings Eng. in Archaeologia (1900) 57 53 (MED) The bisshop of Dureme and the bisshop of bathe schull supporte the kynge in his coronacion, beynge pontifically and rially arayed.
1599 R. Allott Wits Theater Little World f. 196 Constantine ruled in the sea one yeere pontifically.
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 303 The Priest is pontifically attyred in pure fine Lawne.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 19 The Patriarch, attended by almost 400 Priests, all Pontifically habited.
a1711 T. Ken Psyche iv, in Wks. (1721) IV. 256 Aaron when pontifically dress'd.
1769 tr. P. de Charlevoix Hist. Paraguay I. 412 He every day pontifically celebreated the divine mysteries.
1865 Pall Mall Gaz. 10 July 15/2 Dr. Manning preached his first sermon since his accession.., having previously assisted pontifically at high mass.
1896 Catholic World Apr. 5 When they celebrate, pontifically, the divine mysteries, the bishops put shoes, leggings, or slippers on their feet.
1936 C. Williams Queen Elizabeth i. 13 It was pontifically declared that Catherine of Aragon had not been Arthur's wife.
1999 Chron. Higher Educ. (Nexis) 12 Nov. b6 Educators..were still unsure whether the statement on Catholic higher education applied only to pontifically chartered institutions.
2. With a grand, stately, or haughty air; in grand style. Now usually depreciative: arrogantly; dogmatically; pompously.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > pomposity > [adverb]
biglya1475
pompously1573
pontifically1582
budgely1599
pompous1754
largely1857
burlily1863
portentously1892
portentiously1963
the mind > language > statement > dogmatic assertion > [adverb]
flatly1562
peremptorily1571
flat1577
pontifically1582
roundly1596
categorically1603
plonkingly1965
1582 A. Munday Eng. Romayne Lyfe sig. F1 He..liueth there among the Theatines verye pontificallye.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1661 (1955) III. 271 After Sermon, The Bishop..gave us the Blessing very Pontificaly.
1873 Ladies' Repository Oct. 294/1 The Romish branch was characteristically assumptive, deductive, and pontifically dogmatic.
1893 W. Pater Plato & Platonism vi. 117 His Sophoclean amenity as he sits there pontifically at the altar, in the court of his peaceful house.
1906 Athenæum 10 Mar. 304/1 From this to giving them the right to decide pontifically on questions of science is a long step.
1953 E. E. Cummings Let. 9 Feb. (1969) 221 Our hero modestly declines what Doubtless Thomas once pontifically entitled the gambit.
1982 A. MacLean Partisans (1984) ii. 71 He handed the pistol back to Carlos and went on pontifically.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.a1475