*pont*

n. [ L. Hellespontus, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; the mythological Helle, daughter of Athamas + &unr_; sea. ] A narrow strait between Europe and Asia, now called the Daradanelles. It connects the Aegean Sea and the sea of Marmora. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the Hellespont. Mitford.

n. [ LL. pontagium, from L. pons, pontis, a bridge: cf. F. pontage. ] (O. Eng. Law) A duty or tax paid for repairing bridges. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. pontil, pontis. ] (Glass Making) An iron rod used by glass makers for manipulating the hot glass; -- called also, puntil, puntel, punty, and ponty. See Fascet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Ponticus, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; the sea, especially, the Black Sea. ] Of or pertaining to the Pontus, Euxine, or Black Sea. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Pontifices [ L. ] A high priest; a pontiff. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. pontife, L. pontifex, -ficis; pons, pontis, a bridge (perhaps originally, a way, path) + facere to make. Cf. Pontoon. ] A high priest. Especially: (a) One of the sacred college, in ancient Rome, which had the supreme jurisdiction over all matters of religion, at the head of which was the Pontifex Maximus. Dr. W. Smith. (b) (Jewish Antiq.) The chief priest. (c) (R. C. Ch.) The pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. L. pontificius. ] 1. Relating to, or consisting of, pontiffs or priests. “The pontific college with their augurs and flamens.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to the pope; papal. Shenstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. pontificalis: cf. F. pontifical. See Pontiff. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a pontiff, or high priest; as, pontifical authority; hence, belonging to the pope; papal. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to the building of bridges. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Now had they brought the work by wondrous art
Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock
Over the vexed abyss. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] 1. A book containing the offices, or formulas, used by a pontiff. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. The dress and ornaments of a pontiff. “Dressed in full pontificals.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state and government of the pope; the papacy. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a pontifical manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. pontificatus: cf. F. pontificat. See Pontiff. ] 1. The state or dignity of a high priest; specifically, the office of the pope. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The term of office of a pontiff. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. (R. C. Ch.) To perform the duty of a pontiff. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. pons, pontis, a bridge + facere to make. Cf. Pontiff. ] Bridgework; structure or edifice of a bridge. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. pontificius. ] Papal; pontifical. [ Obs. ] “Pontificial writers.” Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the pontiff or pope. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who adheres to the pope or papacy; a papist. [ Obs. ] Bp. Montagu. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Pontee. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. pontilis pertaining to a bridge. ] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pons Varolii. See Pons. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Pontinus or Pomptinus, an appellation given to a district in Latium, near Pometia. ] Of or pertaining to an extensive marshy district between Rome and Naples. [ Written also Pomptine. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., properly, a drawbridge. ] (Man.) The action of a horse in rearing repeatedly and dangerously. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] See Pontoon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ponton (cf. It. pontone), from L. ponto, -onis, fr. pons, pontis, a bridge, perhaps originally, a way, path: cf. Gr. &unr_; path, Skr. path, pathi, panthan. Cf. Punt a boat. ] 1. (Mil.) A wooden flat-bottomed boat, a metallic cylinder, or a frame covered with canvas, India rubber, etc., forming a portable float, used in building bridges quickly for the passage of troops. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) A low, flat vessel, resembling a barge, furnished with cranes, capstans, and other machinery, used in careening ships, raising weights, drawing piles, etc., chiefly in the Mediterranean; a lighter. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pontoon bridge, a bridge formed with pontoons. --
Pontoon train, the carriages of the pontoons, and the materials they carry for making a pontoon bridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The French spelling ponton often appears in scientific works, but pontoon is more common form. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act, art, or process of constructing pontoon bridges. “Army instruction in pontooning.” Gen. W. T. Shermah. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. pont bridge + volant flying. ] (Mil.) A kind of light bridge, used in sieges, for surprising a post or outwork which has but a narrow moat; a flying bridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Class Making) See Pontee. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. rhaponticum rhubarb. See Rhubarb. ] (Chem.) Chrysophanic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Spontaneities [ Cf. F. spontanéité. ] 1. The quality or state of being spontaneous, or acting from native feeling, proneness, or temperament, without constraint or external force. [ 1913 Webster ]

Romney Leigh, who lives by diagrams,
And crosses not the spontaneities
Of all his individual, personal life
With formal universals. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) (a) The tendency to undergo change, characteristic of both animal and vegetable organisms, and not restrained or checked by the environment. (b) The tendency to activity of muscular tissue, including the voluntary muscles, when in a state of healthful vigor and refreshment. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. spontaneus, fr. sponte of free will, voluntarily. ] 1. Proceeding from natural feeling, temperament, or disposition, or from a native internal proneness, readiness, or tendency, without constraint; as, a spontaneous gift or proposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Proceeding from, or acting by, internal impulse, energy, or natural law, without external force; as, spontaneous motion; spontaneous growth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Produced without being planted, or without human labor; as, a spontaneous growth of wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spontaneous combustion, combustion produced in a substance by the evolution of heat through the chemical action of its own elements; as, the spontaneous combustion of waste matter saturated with oil. --
Spontaneous generation. (Biol.) See under Generation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Voluntary; uncompelled; willing. -- Spontaneous, Voluntary. What is voluntary is the result of a volition, or act of choice; it therefore implies some degree of consideration, and may be the result of mere reason without excited feeling. What is spontaneous springs wholly from feeling, or a sudden impulse which admits of no reflection; as, a spontaneous burst of applause. Hence, the term is also applied to things inanimate when they are produced without the determinate purpose or care of man. “Abstinence which is but voluntary fasting, and . . . exercise which is but voluntary labor.” J. Seed. [ 1913 Webster ] Spontaneous joys, where nature has its play,
The soul adopts, and owns their firstborn away. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Spon*ta"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- Spon*ta"ne*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. sponton, esponton, It. spontone, spuntone. ] (Mil.) A kind of half-pike, or halberd, formerly borne by inferior officers of the British infantry, and used in giving signals to the soldiers. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Têtes-de-pont [ F., head of a bridge. ] (Mil.) A work thrown up at the end of a bridge nearest the enemy, for covering the communications across a river; a bridgehead. [ 1913 Webster ]