Cathedral
/kəˈθiː.drəl/noun
The principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop’s official seat.
Did you know?The word cathedral ultimately traces back to Greek kathédra, meaning a “seat” or “chair,” because a cathedral is defined by the bishop’s cathedra, the ceremonial seat of power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sed-
“to sit”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kathédra
“seat, chair”
Late Latin
Latin
cathedrālis
“of a bishop’s seat; episcopal”
Old French
Old French
cathedral
“relating to the bishop’s church”
Middle English
English
cathedral
“the principal church of a diocese”
Modern English
English
cathedral
“the principal church of a diocese”
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