Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cathedral” come from?

Cathedral comes from Middle English cathiderall, from Latin ecclesia and Latin -alis, from Ancient Greek καθέδρα meaning seat, from κατά and καλέω, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm and sed- meaning to sit.

cathedral (English): Relating to the throne or the see of a bishop; A...

Definitions

  1. Relating to the throne or the see of a bishop; A...

Ancestry of “cathedral”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcathedral—
2Old Frenchcathedral—
3Latincathedrālis—
4Latincathēdra—
5Ancient Greekκαθέδραseat; sitting posture; teacher's chair,...
6Ancient Greekκατά
7Ancient Greekκαταστερίζωto place among the stars; I put among the stars
8Ancient Greekἀστήρa celestial body; illustrious person; starfish
9Proto-Hellenicastḗrstar
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth

Words derived from “cathedral”

  • cathedrallike
  • procathedral
  • cathedralic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →