‖ cathedra
(kəˈθiːdrə, ˈkæθɪdrə)
[L. cathedra, a. Gr. καθέδρα chair; esp. seat of a bishop, teacher's or professor's chair: f. κατά down + ἑδ- sit.]
1. The chair or seat of a bishop in his church; hence, the episcopal see or dignity.
| 1829 Trial J. Martin (York) 35 The curtains of the cathedra were up on Sunday. 1863 J. R. Wallran Mem. Fountains Abbey 20 When Archbishop Turstin ascended the cathedra of York in 1114. 1866 J. H. Newman Let. to Pusey (ed. 2) 144 Chrysostom..was in close relations with the once Semi-arian Cathedra of Antioch. |
2. Latin phr. ex cathedrâ, ‘from the chair’, i.e. in the manner of one speaking from the seat of office or professorial chair, with authority; also used attrib. = officially uttered. So † in cathedrâ.
| 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. i. i. (1636) 23 And that he in cathedra cannot erre. 1674 Hickman Hist. Quinquart. Ep. A iv b, When they can neither say, that the Pope was misinformed, or that he was not in Cathedra. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxii, He was a great lover of form, more especially when he could dictate it ex cathedra. 1820 Byron Blues i. 150 Old Botherby's spouting ex-cathedrâ tone. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 128 He, ex cathedrâ, was determining their several questions to them. 1885 Manch. Exam. 4 May 5/2 The President's ex cathedrâ judgment. |