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Pontificate vs Preach - What's the difference?

pontificate | preach |

In intransitive terms the difference between pontificate and preach

is that pontificate is to speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length while preach is to give a sermon.

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.

    preach

    English

    Verb

  • To give a sermon.
  • * , chapter=3
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.”  He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.}}
    A local Muslim used to preach from the Quran and hadith.
  • To proclaim by public discourse; to utter in a sermon or a formal religious harangue.
  • * Bible, Isa. lxi. 1
  • The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek.
  • To advise or recommend earnestly.
  • * Shakespeare
  • My master preaches patience to him.
  • To teach or instruct by preaching; to inform by preaching.
  • * Southey
  • As ye are preached .

    See also

    * praught

    Noun

    (es)
  • (obsolete) A religious discourse.
  • (Hooker)