chair
Meaning
A separate seat for one person, typically with a back and four legs.
The person in charge of a meeting or an organization (used as a title).
To act as the chairperson of a meeting or event.
Usage
She pulled up a chair and joined us at the table.
Professor Jones was appointed chair of the history department.
He will chair the committee's next meeting to discuss the new policy.
Etymology
The word 'chair' entered English in the 13th century from the Old French 'chaiere', meaning a seat or throne. This, in turn, descended from the Latin 'cathedra', which itself originated from the Greek 'kathedra', a compound meaning 'seat' (hedra) where one 'sits down' (kata-). The core concept of a formal seat of authority evolved from the physical object, leading to its modern abstract meanings of presiding over a meeting or holding a professorship.
Analysis
The word 'chair' is a simplex word derived from a single, indivisible root.