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Prognosticate vs Pontificate - What's the difference?

prognosticate | pontificate |

In lang=en terms the difference between prognosticate and pontificate

is that prognosticate is to presage, betoken while pontificate is to speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length.

As verbs the difference between prognosticate and pontificate

is that prognosticate is to predict or forecast, especially through the application of skill 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.

prognosticate

English

Verb

(prognosticat)
  • To predict or forecast, especially through the application of skill.
    • Examining the tea-leaves, she prognosticated dark days ahead.
  • To presage, betoken.
    • The bluebells may prognosticate an early spring this year.

    Quotations

    {{timeline, 1500s=1598, 1800s=1847, 1900s=1915}} * 1598 — *: But from thine eyes my knowledge I derive,
    And constant stars in them I read such art
    As 'Truth and beauty shall together thrive,
    If from thyself, to store thou wouldst convert';
    Or else of thee this I prognosticate :
    'Thy end is truth's and beauty's doom and date.' * *: ...to-morrow I intend lengthening the night till afternoon. I prognosticate for myself an obstinate cold, at least. * 1915 — , Voyage Out ch. 2 *: All old people and many sick people were drawn, were it only for a foot or two, into the open air, and prognosticated pleasant things about the course of the world.

    Synonyms

    * presage, prophesy, foretell

    Related terms

    * prognosis * prognostication ----

    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.