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chair

(châr)

1. A piece of furniture designed to accommodate one sitting or reclining person, providing support for the back and often the arms and typically standing on four legs.

2. A seat of office, authority, or dignity, such as that of a bishop.

a. An office or position of authority, such as a professorship.

b. A person who holds an office or a position of authority, such as one who presides over a meeting or administers a department of instruction at a college; a chairperson.

4. The position of a player in an orchestra.

5. Slang The electric chair.

6. A seat carried about on poles; a sedan chair.

7. Any of several devices that serve to support or secure, such as a metal block that supports and holds railroad track in position.

tr.v. chaired, chair·ing, chairs

1. To preside over as chairperson: chair a meeting.

2. To install (someone) in a position of authority, especially as a presiding officer.

3. To carry (someone) high off the ground in a chair or in a seated position, especially as a tribute.

[Middle English chaiere, from Old French, from Latin cathedra; see CATHEDRA.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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