Pontifical States

proper noun

The Papal States.

OriginItalian Stati Pontifici →
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Meanings

proper nounthe Pontifical States pl (normally plural, singular Pontifical State)

singular Pontifical State

  1. datedhistoricalplural normallyThe Papal States.

    After nearly a quarter of a century’s residence in Milwaukee, […] he was invited by President Lincoln, immediately after his inauguration, to take the appointment of Minister to the Pontifical States in Italy, […]

    1891, George W. Cullum, “Rufus King”, in Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, N. Y. […], 3rd edition, volume 1, page 538

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
papal states

Origin

  1. ItalianStati Pontifici
  2. EnglishPontifical States

Calque of Italian Stati Pontifici.

More words from Italian

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Pontifical States. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pontifical%20States

MLA

“Pontifical States.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pontifical%20States. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Pontifical States,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pontifical%20States.

Source: Pontifical States on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.