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Expound vs Pontificate - What's the difference?

expound | pontificate |

As verbs the difference between expound and pontificate

is that expound is to lay open; to expose to view; to examine or exposit while pontificate is to preside as a bishop, especially at mass.

As a noun pontificate is

the state or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.

expound

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To lay open; to expose to view; to examine or exposit.
  • To lay open the meaning of; to explain or discuss at length; to clear of obscurity; to interpret.
  • *

    • Related terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l)

    pontificate

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) pontificatus, from .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The state or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.

    • Etymology 2

    From the past participle stem of mediaeval (etyl) .

    Verb

    (pontificat)
  • To preside as a bishop, especially at mass.
  • To act like a pontiff; to express one’s position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if they were absolutely correct.
  • To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length.
  • * 2007 , New York Times
    • During a policy discussion awhile back about New York issues, when Mr. Clinton began to pontificate , she told him that he did not exactly know what he was talking about and to hush up.