Pontederia 
anthers, and compound ovary with one cell and 
one ovule. There are but 7 or 8 specie*, all American, 
growing In shallow water, with rootsiocks creeping In the 
mud or floating, and covered by long sheaths. The long 
stout leafstalks rise erect often ' feet aliove the water, each 
bearing a single arrow-shaped, lanceolate, or roundish leaf, 
with many fine parallel curving veins. The flowers rise a 
little higher, form ing a dense cylindrical spike, blue or pur- 
ple, or rarely white, and remarkable for their trimorphous 
stamens, having three lengths of filaments, and three 
reciprocally different lengths of styles, present in different 
flowers, facilitating cross-fertilization. P. cordata, which 
Is found throughout nearly the whole length of America, Is 
known In the northern United States as pickerel-weed, and 
in the southern as wampee. Several former species are now 
separated as the genus Eichhornia, as K. azurea, the water 
plantain of Jamaica, and E. cra&tipeji, the bladder-stalked 
pickerel-weed or gamalote of Guiana, cultivated (under 
the name Pontederia) in tanks under glass as a singular 
bladder-bearing and floating plant 
Pontederiaceae (pon-te-de-ri-a'se-e), n. pi. 
[NL. (Achille Richard, 1828), < Pontederia + 
-aceas.] An order of monoeotyledonous plant* 
of the series Coronariex. it is characterized by a 
perianth of three petals and three similar sepals, all united 
below Into a tube and forming unequal lobes above, by a 
superlorovary of three complete or imperfect carpels, form- 
ing a dry fruit, and by a straiijht cylindrical embryo ex- 
tending through the center of copious farinaceous albu- 
men. It includes 85 species, In & genera, of which Pon- 
tederia and Ileteranthera are the chief, natives of warm 
northern and extratropical southern regions, extending to 
Canada, China, and Japan, but lacking In Europe. They 
are aquatics, erect or floating in fresh water from root- 
stocks which lie horizontally in the mud, or which extend 
as runners flouting on the water. 
pontee (pon-te'), n. Same axpontil. 
pontes. ii. Plural of pong. 
Pontic 1 (pon'tik), a. [= P. pontiqiie = Pg. It. 
politico, < L. Ponttous, < Gr. Ilovmof, Politic, 
< noi>rof, the Black Sea, a particular use (also 
applied to the jEgean and to the whole Medi- 
terranean) of jroVroc, the sea, esp. the open 
sea.] Of or pertaining to the Pontus, Kuxine, 
or Black Sea, or the regions near it. 
Like to the Politic sea, 
Whose Icy current and compulsive course 
Ne'er feels retiring ebb. Shall., Othello, ill. 3. 4f.2. 
pontic 2 (pon'tik), a. [< L. pon(t-)x + -iV.] Of 
or pertaining to the pons of the brain. 
Thirteen of the cages occurred between the ages of ten 
and twenty-nine, the only ease over forty being one of 
potitic abscess. Lancet, No. :(470, p. 7HU. 
pontifex (pon'ti-feks), n. ; pi. pnntifices (pon- 
tif'i-sez). [\t. : see pontiff.] 1. In liom. antiq., 
a member of the principal college of priests 
who was not assigned to the service of any par- 
ticular god, but performed general functions of 
the state religion. The chief of the poiitifiot's 
was styled pontiff* majciuins, and was ex offk'io 
the highest religious authority in the state. 
2. Kccles., a bishop; specifically, the Pope. 
Well has the name of pontit'ex been given 
Into the Church's head, as the chief builder 
And architect of the invisible bridge 
That leads from Earth to Heaven. 
Lotvjfellnu', (Jolden legend, v. 
pontiff (pon'tif), H. [< F. poiitij'e, OF. pontif 
= Sp. pontifice = Pg. It. pontifici; a pontiff, < 
L. pontifex, pontufer (-fie-), a high priest, pon- 
tifex (see pontifex), LL. eccl. a bishop, ML.NL. 
the Pope, lit. (and so used in ML.) 'bridge- 
maker, bridge-builder' (prob. orig. so called as 
having charge of the making or maintenance of 
a bridge it is said, of the Sublician bridge built 
over the Tiber by Auous Marcius), < pon(t-)n, 
bridge, + facere, make: see fact.] 1. In Barm, 
untiq., a chief priest: same as pontifex, 1. 
The reverence which the people showed for the em- 
perors was due to the fact that they all, from Augustus 
to Theodosius, were sovereign Ponti/i. 
Faiths o/ tlte World, p. 201. 
The supreme ponti/ was in the religion of the state what 
the father was in the religion of the family. His dwelling 
was in the regia close to the altar of Vesta, the sacred 
hearth of the state. Bneyc. Brit., XIX.. 455. 
2. A Jewish high priest. 3. Eccles., a bishop; 
especially, the Bishop of Eome, as the head of 
the church ; the Pope. Also called the supreme 
ponti/. 
To secure the papal recognition he empowered the 
bishops of Durham and St. David's to perform that " fllial 
and catholic obedience which was of old due and accus- 
tomed to be paid by the kings of England to the Koman 
pontifs." Stvboi, Const. Hist, i 361. 
ppntific (pon-tif'ik), . [Irreg. aceom. to ad- 
jectives in -fie; = Sp. Pg. It. pontificio, < L. 
pontificius, of or belonging to a pontiff, pontifi- 
cal, < pontifex (-fie-), pontiff: see pontifex.} 
1. Of or pertaining to the pontifices of ancient 
Rome. 
The Puntifick College with their Augurs and Flamfna 
taught them [the Romans! > Religion and Law. 
Milton, Areopagitica, p. s. 
2. Of or pertaining to a pope ; papal. 
4017 
Nor yet surceu'd with John's dlautrous fate 
Ponti fie fury ! Sheiatone, Ruined Abbey. 
pontifical 1 (pon-tif'i-kal), a. and . [< F. pon- 
tifical = Sp. Pg. pontifical = It. pontificate, < L. 
pontificate, of or belonging to a pontiff, ML. 
of or belonging to a bishop or the Pope (as a 
noun pontificale, iieut., a book of offices, ponti- 
ficalia, neut. pi., pontifical vestments), < ponti- 
fex (-fie-), pontiff: see pontiff.] I. a. 1. Of, be- 
longing to, or befitting a pontiff or high priest. 
Thus did I keep my person fresh and new ; 
My pretence, like a robe pontifical, 
Ne'er seen but wouder'd at 
Sltat., 1 Hen. IV., Ill i 50. 
2. Of or pertaining to a bishop. 3. Of or per- 
taining to the Pope of Rome; papal; popish. 
Than she came to the Pope's palays In Aulgnon, and 
there alighted and went to we the Pope, who sat In con- 
systory In a chayre pontyficall. 
Bernen, tr. of Frolasart's Chron., II. civ. 
Gulbert the Antlpope, who, by the aid of the Imperial 
arms, . . . had filled Rome wltherery kind of violence, 
crime, and bloodshed. Invaded the pontifical throne, and 
driven forth the rightful Pope. 
Milman, Latin Christianity, III. 208. 
Pontifical Choir, the choir of the Sist Ine Chapel In Home. 
-Pontifical Indict Ion. See indtrtum, a Pontifical 
mass, a mass celebrated by a bishop wearing his Insignia. 
II. 'i. 1. In lituryicx, an office-book of the 
Western Church, containing the forms for the 
sacraments and other rites and ceremonies 
which can b- performed only by a bishop (es- 
pecially those for ordination, confirmation, and 
consecration of churches), the changes in the 
rubrics necessary when a bishop officiates, 
benedictions, and other forms, some of which 
can be used by priests who have received spe- 
cial commission from the bishop. Pontificals wm- 
probably first Introduced in the eighth century. In the 
Anglican Church since the Reformation the office of con- 
Hnnatlun Is contained In the Book of Common Prayer, to 
which the ordinal also U united. In the Greek Church 
the offices for confirmation and ordination are included in 
the Encholugiun. 
2. /il. The insignia of a pontiff; the dress, orna- 
ments, etc., of a bishop or pope, or, more loose- 
ly, those of a priest. See iiontificalia. 
Kobed In their pontificate, 
England's ancient prelates stood. 
WhMier, Curse of the Charter- Breakers. 
3f. A kind of ouch in use in the sixteenth cen- 
tury. J-'airlmlt. 
pontifical-t (pon-tif'i-kal), . [< L. pontifex 
(-flf-), lit. sense, as in ML., 'bridge-builder': 
Bee pontiff. Cf. pontifical^.] of or pertaining 
to bridge-building. [Rare.] 
Now had they brought the work by wondrous art 
Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock, 
Over the vex'd abyss. Mittun, P. L., x. 813. 
pontificalia (l'ii-tit'-i-ka'li-ii), . pi. [ML.: see 
pontificate.] The insignia of a bishop. In the 
Western Church these are the pastoral staff, miter, ring, 
pectoral cross, cathedra or diocesan throne, episcopal 
vestments, gloves, and sandals. In the (ireek Church 
they are the pateressa, encolplon, throne, and special 
vestments with omophorion, polystaurion or saccos, and 
epigonation. 
pontificalityt (pon-tif-i-kal'i-ti), . [<OF.;w>w- 
tificalite; &$ pontifical 1 + -ity.] 1. The state, 
dignity, and government of the Pope ; the pa- 
pacy. 
Charles the fifth, emperor, who waa accounted one of the 
Pope's best sons,yet proceeded in matters temporal towards 
Pope Clement with strange rigour, never regarding the 
pontificaiity. but kept htm prisoner thirteen months In a 
pestilent prison. Bacon, Charge against William Talbot. 
When the puntifcality was first set up in Rome, all na- 
tions from East to West did worship the Pope no other- 
wise than of old the Ceesars. 
Usher, Judgment on the See of Rome, p. 20. 
2. pi. Same as pontifical 1 , 2. 
He himself [the Btehop of ParisJ was that day In his 
sumptuous Pontificalities, wearing religious ornaments of 
great price. Cnryat, Crudities, I. 37, slg. D. 
pontifically (pou-tif'i-kal-i), adv. In a pontifi- 
cal manner ; specificaljy, after the manner of a 
bishop; officially as bishop. To assist pontifi- 
cally, to be present officially as bishop without being cele- 
brant or officiant. In the Anglican Church the bishop 
when present at the eiicharUt pronounces the absolution 
and gives the benediction. 
After sermon > Bishop (Dr. Wren) gave us the blessing 
very ponKftcaUy. Ktrlyn, Diary, Feb. 10, 1661. 
pontificate (pon-tif i-kat), n. [< F. pontifical 
= Sp. Pg.poiitificado = It. pontificate, < L.jxm- 
tifieatu*, the office of a pontiff, < pontifex (-fie-), 
pontiff: see pontiff.} 1. The office or dignity 
of a pontiff, nigh pnest, or pope. 
He turned hermit In the view of being advanced to the 
pontificate. Addixm. 
2. The time during which a pontifical office is 
held by any given incumbent. 
pontonier 
After the pontificate of Clement V. the hold of the papacy 
on the nation was relaxing. 
Stubtu, Medieval and Modem Hint., p. 306. 
pontificate (pon-tif i-kat), v. i.; pret. and pp. 
pontificated, ppr. pontificating. [< ML. pontiti- 
catus, pp. of pontificare, perform a pontiff's 
duties, < L. pontifex (-fie-), pontiff: see pontiff.] 
To act officially as pontiff or bishop; especial- 
ly, to say pontifical mass. 
The golden reed I* used to this day by the Pope when- 
ever he solemnly pontificate!. 
Hock, Church of our Fathers, I. 167. 
pontifice (pon'ti-fis), H. [< L./WH(<-), a bridge, 
+ -ficium, < facere, make. Cf. ML. pontifei 
(fi c ~)> a bridge-builder: see pontiff.] Bridge- 
work; the structure or edifice of a bridge; a 
bridge. [Rare.] 
At the brink of Chaos, near the foot 
of this new, wondroof MHlHM. 
Milton, f. L., x. 848. 
pontifices, . Plural of pontifex. 
pontificialt (pon-ti-flsh'al), a. [< L. pontificiua 
(see pitutific) + -al.] Of or pertaining to a 
pontiff; pontifical; hence, papal; popish. 
I have my puritan news, my protestant news, and my 
IM'nlificinl news. Ii. Joiuon, World In the Moon. 
pontificiant (pon-ti-fish'an), a. and n. [< L. 
poiitificiun, of or belonging to a pontiff (see 
pontific), + -<tn.] I. a. Of or pertaining to 
the Pope; pontificial. 
The pnntifician laws. Bp. Hall, Peace-maker, 11. ( 2. 
II. n. AII adherent of the Pope or of the 
papacy. 
In some of our hands they (the keys of heaven) are suf- 
fered to rust for want of use. In others (as the Pontificiaiu) 
the wards are altered, so as they can neither open nor 
shut. /.'/' //'//. Righteous Mammon. 
That In the Public Office or Liturgy of the Church of 
England Is nothing but what Is consonant to the faith, the 
pontifician grant. Evelyn, True Religion, II. 353. 
pontil(pon'til),H. [A\opuntel(&uAponte,pvtt- 
tec, ponly, pinity); < F. pontil, dim. of point, a 
point: see point. Cf. poiiitd.] An iron rod 
used in glass-making for handling, and espe- 
cially for revolving rapidly, the soft glass in 
the process of formation, especially in the mak- 
ing of crown-glass. 
pontile (pon'til), a. [< LL. pontilis, belonging 
to a bridge, < L. pon(t-)s, a bridge.] Of or 
pertaining to the pons of the brain. Also^xm- 
tal, pontine. 
pontinal (uon'ti-ual), n. and . [< L. pon(t-)s, 
a bridge.] I. a. Bridging; forming a bridge 
over a gap, as among cranial bones. 
II. 11. A bone of tne skull of some fishes; a 
modified bone of the infra -orbital chain of bones 
bridging the interval between the second sub- 
orbital and the preoperculum, as in the Dacty- 
lopteroidca. dill, Amer. Nat. (1888), p. 358. 
Pontine 1 (pon'tin), a. [Also Pomntine; = F. 
pontinii (pi.) = It. pontine (pi.), < L. I'ontinns, 
I'nniptiniin, an appellation given to a district 
in Latium near Pometia, and particularly used 
of extensive marshes there; appar. a var. of 
I'ometinus, of or belonging to Pometia, < Pome- 
tut, an old town of the Volscians.] Of or re- 
lating to an extensive marshy district south- 
east of Rome, called the Pontine Marshes. 
pontine' 2 (pon'tin), . [< L. pon(t-)s, bridge, 
+ -ine 1 .] Same tis pontile. 
Pontile (sometimes, incorrectly, pontine or pontal). 
Bvek'i Handbook of tied. Sdencei, VIII. 524. 
Pont 1'EvSque cheese. See cheese*. 
pontleviflfpont-lev'is),!!. [<F.pontletig, a draw- 
bridge, the rearing of a horse, < pont (< L. 
pon(t-)s), bridge, -f levis, OF. leveis, levadis = 
Pr. levadis = Sp. levadizo = Pg. letadiyo, that 
may be raised or drawn up, < L. as if 'letaticins, 
< levare, raise: see levy 1 . Cf. It. leaatojo, a 
drawbridge.] 1. A drawbridge. 
Yonder 's a plum-tree, with a crevice 
An owl would build In, were he but sage, 
For a lap of moss, like a fine pontlera 
In a castle of the middle age, 
Joins to a lip of gum pure amber. 
Hrvtrnmj, sibrandus Schaf naburgeosls. 
2. In the manege, the resistance of a horse by 
rearing repeatedly on his hind legs so as to be- 
in danger of falling over. 
Pontocaspian (pon-to-kas'pi-an), a. [< Pontic 
+ Caspian.] Relating to the regions which 
drain into the Caspian and Black seas. 
The water-shed of the Pontocaipian area. 
Huxley, Crayfish, ri. 
pontont, n. An obsolete form of pontoon. 
pontonier (pon-to-ner'), H. 
= It. jiontvniere, ^F. pontonnier, (.ponton, a pon- 
toon: see pontoon.] A soldier who has charge 
