ex cathedra
[ eks kuh-thee-druh, kath-i-druh ]
/ ˈɛks kəˈθi drə, ˈkæθ ɪ drə /
adjective, adverb
from the seat of authority; with authority: used especially of those pronouncements of the pope that are considered infallible.
Origin of ex cathedra
First recorded in 1810–20,
ex cathedra is from the Latin word
ex cathedrā literally, from the chair
Words nearby ex cathedra
Example sentences from the Web for ex cathedra
I am tired of your ex-cathedra statements and your self-sufficiency.'
Possessed |Cleveland Moffett
British Dictionary definitions for ex cathedra
ex cathedra
/ (ɛks kəˈθiːdrə) /
adjective, adverb
with authority
RC Church
(of doctrines of faith or morals) defined by the pope as infallibly true, to be accepted by all Catholics
Word Origin for ex cathedra
Latin, literally: from the chair
Cultural definitions for ex cathedra
ex cathedra
[ (eks kuh-thee-druh) ]
Descriptive term for an official pronouncement from the pope. Ex cathedra is Latin for “from the chair.” Roman Catholics believe that the pope speaks infallibly when speaking ex cathedra on questions of faith or morals, such as when Pope Pius XII declared in 1950 that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was physically taken up to heaven after her death.
notes for ex cathedra
Figuratively, any authoritative pronouncement may be called “ex cathedra.”