cathedral

Where does the word "cathedral" come from? It comes from Greek kathedra, passing through Latin before entering English (medieval).

Cathedral’s story begins in Greek: kathedra meant “a seat, a bishop's chair.” Literally "a seat", especially a bishop's official chair. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as cathedra. The bishop's chair; a cathedral is the church that holds it. It reached English by medieval as cathedral. Came to name the church housing the bishop's seat. Today, cathedral means the main church of a diocese, containing the bishop's official seat.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient kathedra "a seat, a bishop's chair", literally "a seat", especially a bishop's official chair.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient cathedra "a bishop's official seat", the bishop's chair; a cathedral is the church that holds it.
3. Stage 3 · English · medieval cathedral "the principal church of a diocese", came to name the church housing the bishop's seat.