A Throne Is Just a Chair, Etymologically
A throne is a ceremonial seat of power. The Greek word behind it means simply a seat, and the grandeur is entirely English addition.
A throne is the ceremonial seat of a monarch. The Greek *thronos* meant nothing more than a seat or chair, and its grandeur is entirely acquired. English keeps the deflation available: *the throne* is also a euphemism for the lavatory, which is a joke about a chair pretending to be important.
- A royal seat. *He ascended the throne.*
- Royal power itself. *An heir to the throne.*
- The lavatory (humorous). *He's on the throne.*
- Enthrone — to place in power. *Enthroned in 1953.*
- Dethrone — to remove from power. *The champion was dethroned.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | throne | An empty throne. |
| Plural | thrones | Two thrones. |
| Verb | enthrone | To enthrone a bishop. |
| Verb | dethrone | Dethrone the champion. |
| Greek | thronos | A seat. |
- She came to the throne at twenty-five.Power, not furniture.
- The throne stands empty in the hall.The object.
- The champion was dethroned in three sets.Sport.
Words about royal power
- Throne — the seat, and by extension the office
- Crown — the object, and the institution, as in Crown property
- Sceptre — the staff carried as a sign of authority
- Accede — to come to the throne; the noun is accession
- Abdicate — to give it up, literally to renounce a claim
Greek *thronos*, a seat, through Latin and Old French. English has used it since the 1200s, and the metonym for royal power is nearly as old.
What is the difference between the throne and the crown?
Both stand for royal authority. The Crown is the usual term in law and government; the throne is more often used of succession.
Why is a lavatory called a throne?
A joke about a seat with pretensions. It is informal and deliberately deflating.