pope

Definition

An honorary title of the Roman Catholic bishop of Rome as father and head of his church, a sovereign of the Vatican city state.

Etymology

From Middle English pope, popa, from Old English pāpa, from Vulgar Latin papa (title for priests and bishops, esp. and by 8th c. only the bishop of Rome), from early Byzantine Greek παπᾶς (papâs, title for priests and bishops, especially by 3rd c. the bishop of Alexandria), from late Ancient Greek πάπας (pápas, title for priests and bishops, in the sense of spiritual father), from πάππας (páppas, “papa, daddy”).

Example Sentences

• "Þa wæs in þa tid Uitalius papa þæs apostolican seðles aldorbiscop."
• "The Pope is not going to issue a bull condemning the Spanish Church's support of France and destroy the Church's right to exist in Spain."
• "2007 May 5, Ted Koppel (guest), Wait, Wait... Don’t tell me!, National Public Radio I really did want to interview the pope. Any pope. I'm not particular."

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