cathedral

The word 'cathedral' originates from the Late Latin phrase 'ecclesia cathedralis', meaning 'church of the bishop's seat'. Its core component, 'cathedra', is borrowed from Greek 'kathedra', literally a 'seat' or 'bench', formed from 'kata-' ('down') and 'hedra' ('seat'). In ecclesiastical Latin, 'cathedra' specifically denoted the bishop's official throne, the symbol of his teaching authority. The English adjective 'cathedral' (later used as a noun) thus literally means 'of or pertaining to the bishop's chair', designating the church which houses this central seat of diocesan authority.

Structure: cathedra (chair) + al (adjective-forming suffix) cathedra: From Latin 'cathedra', meaning 'chair, seat, professorial chair'. Origin: Greek 'kathedra' (a seat, from 'kata-' down + 'hedra' seat). al: A suffix forming adjectives, from Latin '-alis'.