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
Data (word) Data (word) The word data has generated considerable controversy on whether it is an uncountable noun used with verbs conjugated in the singular, or should be treated as the plural of the now-rarely-used "datum". In one sense, "data" is the plural form of "datum". "Datum" actually can also be a count noun with the plural "datums" (see usage in datum article) that can be used with cardinal numbers (e.g. "80 datums"); "data" (originally a Latin plural) is not used like a normal count noun with cardinal numbers and can be plural with such plural determiners as "these" and "many" or