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 obscenity later. "Merda" is productive in the Romance languages, and is the obvious etymon of French "merde", Spanish "mierda", and in Vegliot Dalmatian "miarda". It is preserved unaltered in Catalan, Galician, Italian, Portuguese, and Sardinian. It was preserved in Romanian too, not for feces, where "căcat" (derived from "caco") is used instead, but in the word "dezmierda", originally meaning "to clean the bottom of (an infant)"; subsequently becoming "to cuddle" or "to fondle". "Pēdō", "pēdere, pepēdī, pēditum" is the basic Latin word for passing intestinal wind. In the "Sermones" 1.8, 46, Horace writes: Christopher Smart translates this passage as "from my