† CATHEDRAL

From Latin cathedra = a teacher or professor's chair; from the Greek kathedra = exalted seat, bench, chair -occupied by men of eminent rank or influence [kata = down + hedra = seat, base, chair; PIE🔍  root sed = to sit ]  - A seat where the sitter is physically looking down on those before him; thus associated 1st as learned man's chair, then a religious seat of authority.

Originally used as an adjective creating words like cathedraical, cathedratic & cathedratical in the 17th century before becoming it's now common noun form.​