pontifice

From Latin pontificem, accusative singular of pontifex, from the noun pons, pontis (“a bridge”) + facere (“to make”). Compare pontiff.

pontifice

1. (archaic) Bridgework; structure or edifice of a bridge.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature Ll2, recto, lines 345–349:

     With joy / And tidings fraught, to Hell he now return'd, / And at the brink of Chaos, neer the foot / Of this new wondrous Pontifice, unhop't / Met who to meet him came, his Ofspring dear.

2. (obsolete) pontiff

• “pontifice”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

pontifice

1. ablative singular of pontifex

(Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?) Borrowed from Latin pontifex m. Doublet of pontif m.

• IPA^(key): /ponˈti.fi.t͡ʃe/

pontifice m (plural pontifici)

1. pontiff

   Synonym: pontif m