popes

Noun

pope (plural popes)

1. (Roman Catholicism and generally) An honorary title of the Roman Catholic bishop of Rome as father and head of his church, a sovereign of the Vatican city state.
   • Þa wæs in þa tid Uitalius papa þæs apostolican seðles aldorbiscop.ante 950, translating Bede's Ecclesiastical History (Tanner), iv. i. 252
   1. (broadly, ironic, often, Roman Catholicism and generally) Any similarly absolute and 'infallible' authority.
      • We often say, that every man has a pope in his belly.1689, G. Bulkeley, “People's Right to Election”, in Andros Tracts, published 1869, II. 106
   2. (broadly, Roman Catholicism and generally) Any similar head of a religion.
      • In þat yle dwelleth the Pope of hire lawe, þat þei clepen lobassy.c. 1400, John Mandeville, Travels (Titus C.xvi, 1919), 205
   3. (uncommon, Roman Catholicism and generally) A theocrat, a priest-king, including (at first especially) over the imaginary land of Prester John or (now) in figurative and alliterative uses.
      • Eche day there etyn in his court xii erchebeshopis and xx bishopis, and the patriak of Seynt Thomays is as here pope.ante 1500, John Mandeville, Travels (Rawl., 1953), 103
   4. (UK, Roman Catholicism and generally) An effigy of the pope traditionally burnt in Britain on Guy Fawkes' Day and (occasionally) at other times.
      • This is the only piece in which the author has given a hint of his religion, by ridiculing the ceremony of burning the pope, and by mentioning with some indignation the inscription […]1830, Alexander Pope, The Poetical Works of Alexander Pope, page xxi
   5. (US, obsolete, Roman Catholicism and generally) Pope Day, the present Guy Fawkes Day.

See all 24 meanings of pope