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 as mentioned above..."). In other sentences, the verb "est" or "erat" follows the word which it is presenting, or comes in the middle of a phrase in hyperbaton: When "est" is an auxiliary, it normally follows the participle which it is used with: Sometimes, however, the auxiliary can move forward to follow some significant item of information, such as a quantity phrase or focussed word: In subordinate clauses the auxiliary frequently raises to the position directly after the conjunction or relative pronoun: But if there is a focus word following the conjunction or relative pronoun, the auxiliary follows that and