a. and sb. [ad. med.L. cathedrāticus, f. cathedra. Cf. F. cathédratique.]
1. Law. Pertaining to the bishop’s seat; belonging to the episcopal see; in cathedratic payment, imposition, right.
1661. J. Stephens, Procurations, 85. This Cathedratick payment to the Bishop from the beneficed Clergie within his Diœcess. Ibid., 97. This Cathedratick imposition.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist., I. II. iii. 41. They gave the Bishop the Third Part of these Oblations, which was called the Right Cathedratick [droit cathédratique].
2. Pronounced ex cathedrâ, or from the chair, authoritative.
1871. T. A. Trollope, in St. Pauls Mag., VIII. 354 (O.). There is the prestige of antiquity, which adds the authority of venerability to cathedratic precepts. Ibid., Durnton Abbey, II. xvii. 281. ‘Nothing is a matter of course!’ said Mr. Burrows, in a very cathedratic manner.
B. quasi-sb. = cathedratic payment in 1. Also in the L. form cathedrāticum (see Du Cange).
1670. Blount, Law Dict., Cathedratick (Cathedraticum) is a Sum of 2s. paid to the Bishop by the Inferior Clergy, in Argumentum subjectionis and ob honorem Cathedræ.
1721. in Bailey.
1774. T. West, Antiq. Furness (1805), 203. The cathedreticum, synodales, and the procurations of the apostolic see.
1846. M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), II. 305. The emoluments of a [Roman Catholic] bishop arise from his parish, from licenses, and from the cathedraticum.
