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
Latin word order the indirect object is a full noun, and follows the direct object (which according to Devine and Stephens is the neutral word order): Unlike true enclitics, however, pronouns can also sometimes begin a sentence: As with the copula "est" (see above), when a focus phrase or emphatic delayed topic phrase intervenes, the weak pronoun will usually follow that, rather than the first word of the sentence: However, sometimes the pronoun will be found in second position, leaving "est" to follow the focussed phrase: And in the following example, the pronoun follows not the focussed word, but the conjunction "si" "if":