cathedral
cathedral Lexical Profile
cathedral Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The principal Christian church of a diocese, which contains the official seat or throne of a bishop.
"The newly appointed bishop delivered his first official sermon from the pulpit of the grand cathedral."
A large, imposing, or important church building, regardless of its strict ecclesiastical status.
"Tourists marveled at the intricate stained glass windows and towering flying buttresses of the medieval cathedral."
A place, typically in nature, of immense beauty, majesty, or spiritual significance that inspires reverence.
"The ancient redwood forest felt like a quiet, majestic cathedral of towering trees and filtered sunlight."
Word Nuance & Usage
While often used generally to describe any large or visually imposing church, 'cathedral' technically designates the principal church of a diocese that houses the bishop's official seat (cathedra).
• Rhymes for cathedral
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English (via Old French), derived from Late Latin 'cathedralis' (adjective), from Latin 'cathedra' meaning 'seat', which traces back to the Greek 'kathedra'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.