[a. F. cathédral, or ad. (its source) med.L. cathedrālis of or belonging to the (bishop’s) seat, f. cathedra: see prec. (But some adj. uses have arisen anew from the sb.)]
1. Of or pertaining to the bishop’s throne or see.
a. esp. in cathedral church (formerly also church cathedral), the church that contains the bishop’s throne, the principal church of a diocese; = CATHEDRAL sb. (F. église cathédrale.] (It has been applied loosely to a collegiate or abbey church.)
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 282. Atte heye chyrche of Wynchester, þer ys se was ydo, þat me clupede chyrche cathedral.
a. 1384. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 73. Þei maken men to ȝeue here nedi liflode to here cathedral chirches þat han no nede.
a. 1420. Occleve, De Reg. Princ., 2906. The chapitre of a chirche cathedralle.
1480. Caxton, Descr. Brit., 25. Boniface … songe in euery Cathedrall chirche of Wales a mas.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 344. To make sacrifices in the high places, in their Cathedral Churches at Bethel and at Dan.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. ii. 37. Me thought I sate in Seate of Maiesty, In the Cathedrall Church of Westminster.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxx. § 11. Bishops and churches cathedral being sufficiently endowed with lands.
1845. M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), II. 277. The several cathedral and collegiate churches in England and Wales.
b. generally.
1570. Levins, Manip., 13. Cathedral, cathedralis.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Cathedrall, chiefe in the Diocesse.
a. 1640. Jackson, Creed, XII. xv. If in this cathedral constitution he did not err.
1641. Milton, Animadv. (1851), 207. More savoury knowledge in one Lay-man, than in a dozen of Cathedrall Prelates.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 391/1. The Broad, or Cathedral Beard … because Bishops and Grave Men of the Church antiently did wear such Beards.
1882–3. Schaff, Relig. Encycl., III. 2305. He found his cathedral chair full of thorns.
2. Of or pertaining to the chair of office or authority; ex cathedrâ: a. ecclesiastically.
1638. Heywood, Lucrece, I. Wks. 1874, V. 170. Heere we enthrone our selves, Cathedrall state Long since detaind us, justly we resume.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Lib. Proph., vii. 125. To dissent from any of his [the Pope’s] Cathedrall determinations is absolute heresy.
1886. Sat. Rev., 10 July, 47/1. The cathedral utterances of Leo XIII.
b. professorially.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. iii. (1632), 193. To resolve belongs to a cathedrall master [F. cathedrant].
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, I. ii. (1616), 455. Hood an asse with reuerend purple … And he shall passe for a cathedrall Doctor.
1618. Hales, Lett., in Gold. Rem. (1688), 423. The Schoolmens Conclusions and Cathedral Decisions had been received as Oracles and Articles of Faith.
1849. T. B. Shaw, Outlines Eng. Lit., 299. The style is too uniformly didactic, cathedral, and declamatory.
† 3. (See quots.)
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Cathedral, old-fashioned, out of Date, Ancient.
1755. Johnson, Cathedral, in low phrase, antique, venerable, old.
¶ In some cases, e.g., cathedral town, it is difficult to distinguish between the original adjective, and the sb. used attributively: see next 3.
