The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Chair \Chair\ (ch[^a]r), n. [OE. chaiere, chaere, OF. chaiere,
chaere, F. chaire pulpit, fr. L. cathedra chair, armchair, a
teacher's or professor's chair, Gr. ? down + ? seat, ? to
sit, akin to E. sit. See Sit, and cf. Cathedral,
chaise.]
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1. A movable single seat with a back.
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2. An official seat, as of a chief magistrate or a judge, but
esp. that of a professor; hence, the office itself.
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The chair of a philosophical school. --Whewell.
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A chair of philology. --M. Arnold.
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3. The presiding officer of an assembly; a chairman; as, to
address the chair.
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4. A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles,
or two-wheeled carriage, drawn by one horse; a gig.
--Shak.
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Think what an equipage thou hast in air,
And view with scorn two pages and a chair. --Pope.
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5. An iron block used on railways to support the rails and
secure them to the sleepers.
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Chair days, days of repose and age.
To put into the chair, to elect as president, or as
chairman of a meeting. --Macaulay.
To take the chair, to assume the position of president, or
of chairman of a meeting.
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