好词典

pontificate

UK //pɒnˈtɪfɪkeɪt//US //pɑːnˈtɪfɪkeɪt//

词源

源自拉丁语 'pontificatus',意为‘教皇的职位’,由 'pontifex'(教皇)和 '-ate'(动词后缀)构成。

verb

❶ 以权威或自以为是的方式发表意见,通常带有居高临下的语气,显得自己很懂或很重要。

“He loves to pontificate about politics at dinner parties.”

(他喜欢在晚宴上对政治高谈阔论。)

“She pontificated for hours on the flaws of modern education.”

(她花了几个小时滔滔不绝地谈论现代教育的缺陷。)

同义词:lecture, sermonize, dogmatize

noun

❶ 教皇的职位或任期,特指罗马天主教教皇的官方地位。

“His pontificate lasted for over twenty years.”

(他的教皇任期持续了二十多年。)

“The reforms were introduced during his pontificate.”

(这些改革是在他的教皇任期内推行的。)

同义词:papacy, reign, tenure

常见短语

pontificate on — 对某个话题发表长篇大论或说教式的言论,通常带有自以为是的语气。

“He pontificated on the virtues of classical music to the uninterested crowd.”

(他对一群不感兴趣的听众大谈古典音乐的优点。)