Pontifex maximus pointed out that the term existed before there were any bridges in Rome and derived the word from Old Latin "pontis" (sic) meaning a powerful or absolute master, while others derived it from "potis facere" in the sense of "able to sacrifice". The last derivation is mentioned also by Varro, who rejected it, but it was the view of Pontifex Maximus Quintus Scaevola. Others have held that the word was originally "pompifex" (leader of public processions). The word "pons" originally meant "way" and "pontifex" would thus mean "maker of roads and bridges". Another opinion is that the word is a
Vulgar Latin quality of", while "" specialized into a verb denoting location or dwelling, or state of health. The copula (that is, the verb signifying "to be") of Classical Latin was '. This evolved to *"essere" in Vulgar Latin by attaching the common infinitive suffix "-re" to the classical infinitive; this produced Italian ' and French ' through Proto-Gallo-Romance *"essre" and Old French ' as well as Spanish and Portuguese "" (Romanian "a " derives from "fieri", which means "to become"). In Vulgar Latin a second copula developed utilizing the verb ', which originally meant (and is cognate with) "to stand", to