chair English · revision 3902

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1225|origins=grc καθέδρα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /tʃeə/, US /tʃer/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|chaere]], chayere,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|chaiere|t=chair, seat, throne]] (modern French chaire “pulpit, throne”),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|cathedra|t=seat]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[grc|καθέδρα|tr=kathédrā|t=seat]], from kata- “down” and hédrā “seat, base”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from hézesthai “to sit”.^(MWU 2024) The Old French form shows the regular loss of th between vowels and of d before r.^(Barnhart 1988) The humbler sense of the French word passed in the 16th century to the variant chaise.^(Etymonline) The verb is from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[cathedral]], [[chaise]] and [[sit]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A seat with a back for one person: early 13th century in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and about 1225, in King Horn, in Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) before 1300 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative “seat of office or authority”, from about 1300, was first used of bishops and professors.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The professor's chair, from the seat from which a professor lectures (mid-15th century), came to mean the office of a professor in 1816.^(Etymonline) The seat of a person presiding at a meeting is from the 1640s,^(Etymonline) and so the chairperson.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) As short for [[electric chair]] it is American, from 1900.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The bard's chair awarded at a Welsh Eisteddfod is from 1820.^(OED 1989) The verb meant “to install in a chair” in the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) “to carry aloft in triumph” from 1761,^(OED 1989) and “to preside over” a meeting from 1921.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Chairman'' is from 1654,^(Barnhart 1988) ''chairwoman'' from 1681 and ''chairperson'' from 1971.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1225 – a seat.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – a seat of authority.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1640s – the seat of a person presiding.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1654 – ''chairman''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1761 – verb, to carry aloft.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1816 – a professorship.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1900 – the electric chair.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1921 – to preside over.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A seat for one person, with legs, a back and often arms.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A seat of office or authority, as of a bishop.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An office of authority, especially a [[professorship]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A person who presides over a meeting or organization; a [[chairperson]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The [[electric chair]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To install in a position of authority.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To preside over as chairperson.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' To carry aloft in triumph.^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[chairless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stool]]

+ * [[couch]]

+ * [[sofa]]

+ * [[settee]]

+ * [[love seat]]

+ * [[bench]]

+ * [[cathedral]]

+ * [[chaise]]

+ * [[sit]]

+ * [[chairman]]

+ * [[chairperson]]

+ * [[cathedra]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ An obsolete chair, “a chariot”, from Old French char, was assimilated in spelling to this word.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}