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
Blue–green distinction in language that meant "marigold" a small and in fact yellow flower. The other word, "blu", refers to a darker shade of blue, and like many similar words across many European languages, derives ultimately from Germanic (see also: Italian "blu"). There is a separate word for green, "gjelbër", which derives from the Latin "galbinus", which originally meant "yellow"; the original Latin word for green on the other hand, "viridis", is the source of the Albanian word for "yellow", "verdhë". There are separate words for green ("zaļš") and blue ("zils") in Latvian. Both "zils" and "zaļš" stem from the same Proto-Indo-European word for