Middle English Dictionary Entry
pontificāl n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pontificāl n. Also pontificalle. |
| Etymology | OF pontifical & ML pontificāle, -cālia. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A vestment of a cardinal or bishop; the vestments of any high ecclesiastic; (b) pontifical rings; (c) the vestments of a pagan Roman high priest; one of the vestments of a Jewish high priest; (d) a papal or episcopal edict; (e) a duty or function of a high church dignitary; (f) a high ecclesiastic; (g) a group of priests or prelates.
Associated quotations
a
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)460 : There to mete him..was the Erchebisshop and the Chaunceller, Lyncoln and Bathe..In pontyficall arrayed richely.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)134 : Þis prison..now is..mad a cherch in worchip of seynt nicholas, where as þei sey is seint nicholas arme and his pontifical.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)130 : Þe prelate in pontificals was prestly atyride.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)1846 : Solempnely a cardinal, Reuestyd with a pontifical, Sang þe masse ryal.
b
- (a1500) Invent.Westm.in Archaeol.52214 : Hys Miter & crose beyng Redy wt hys glovys and pontyfycalle.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.992 : Beyng arrayed in his pontificall..this excessif glotoun..drank ofte ageyn lust.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)19/20 : Alexander..sawe..þe byschope also in his pontyfycales.
d
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)480 : Men shulden more trowe hooly werkis þan popis bullis or bischops lettris..alle þes pontificals ben byneþe hooly writ.
e
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.405 : Seynte Petyr ordeynede ij bischoppes at Rome..to fullefille the ministery off pristes to the peple..and notte the pontificalles [Trev.: office of bisshoppes; L pontificalia].
f
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4335 : Relygeous reueste in theire riche copes, Pontyficalles and prelates in precyouse wedys..All was buskede in blake.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)53/18 : Ther be many of our pontificalles and prestes in whiche is seyn opynly grete plente of horrible defawtis.
g
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A pontificalle of prynces, a pontificalle of prelatys.
- c1475 in Hodgkin Proper Terms52 : A Pontyfycalle of Prestysse.