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 vocabulary ( 'knee joint' ), originally a veterinary term only, replaced the classical Latin word for leg ("crus") in most Romance languages. (cf. Fr. jambe, It. gamba). Cooking terms were also often borrowed from Greek sources; a calque based on a Greek term was "ficatum (iecur)" (goose's liver fattened with figs, see foie gras for more information), with the participle "ficatum" becoming the common word for liver in Vulgar Latin (cf. Sp. "hígado", Fr. "foie", It. "fegato", Pt "fígado", Romanian "ficat"). Important religious terms were also drawn from religious texts written in Greek, such as "episcopus" (bishop), "presbyter" (priest), "martyr" etc.