pontarachna

[Gr. pontos =the sea, and arachně a spider.] Zool .: A genus of Hydrachnide, with one or two species, from both sides of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. pon-těd-er-ā-çě-æ, s. pl. [Mod. Lat. ponteder (ia); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -aceœ.] IMG:content-1317.png:[blocks in formation] pon-ti-fex ( pl . pon-tif-1-çēş), s. [Latin from pons a bridge, a path, and facio =to make.] [PONTIFF.] A bridge-builder; a title given to the more illustrious members of the Roman Colleges of priests. Their number was originally five, the president being styled Pontifex Maximus. The number was afterward increased to nine, and later still to fifteen. After the time of Tiberius the office and title of Pontifex Maximus were bestowed, as a matter of course, upon each Emperor on his acce ion. It is now the title of the Pope. "Well has the name of Pontifex been given Unto the Church's head, as the chief builder And architect of the invisible bridge That leads from earth to heaven."