/keuh thee"dreuh, kath"i-/ , n. , pl. cathedrae /-dree, -dree'/ .
1. the seat or throne of a bishop in the principal church of a diocese.
2. an official chair, as of a professor in a university.
3. an ancient Roman chair used by women, having an inclined, curved back and curved legs flaring outward: the Roman copy of the Greek klismos.
[ 1625-35; kathédra, deriv. of kathézomai to sit down; see CAT-, SIT; cf. CHAIR ]