throne

plural thrones

1. An impressive seat used by a monarch, often on a raised dais in a throne room and reserved for formal occasions.

   He approached the throne reverently.

   3 more examples

   9 After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could nūber, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, & tongues, ſtood before the throne, & before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palmes in their hands: 10 And cryed with a loude voice, ſaying, Saluation to our God, which ſitteth vpon the Throne, and vnto the Lambe. 11 And all the Angels ſtood round about the Throne, and about the Elders, and the foure beaſts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worſhipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Bleſſing, and glorie, and wiſedome, and thankeſgiuing, and honour, & power, and might be vnto our God for euer & euer, Amen.

   New International Version translation: ⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” ¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 7:9–12, signature [Z6], verso, column 2

   Before daylight, when the dragon flew home to sleep, he had burned up the hall and even the throne of the Geatish king.

   1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 41

   Cities will burn as you fall to your knees / I will inhale the dust of my enemies / Watch from my throne as I sit up all high / They scream as they burn / I laugh as they die

   2014, “Send Help”, in Coma Witch, performed by The Acacia Strain and Max Cavalera

   Synonyms: chair of state

2. figurativelyLeadership, particularly the position of a monarch.

   The prince's newborn baby is fifth in line to the throne.

   3 more examples

   Queen Victoria sat upon the throne of England for 63 years.

   40 Thou ſhalt be ouer my house, and according vnto thy word ſhall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater then thou.

   New International Version translation: ⁴⁰ You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 41:40–40, signature [D5], verso, column 2

   Stephen reigned from 1135-1154, that nasty period of our history dubbed 'The Anarchy', when forces loyal to Stephen contested the throne with those of Henry I's daughter Matilda, who by rights should have been queen. Stephen, her cousin, plonked his own posterior on the throne.

   2023 December 27, Stephen Roberts, “Bradshaw's Britain: the way to Weymouth”, in RAIL, number 999, page 52

3. The seat of a bishop in the cathedral-church of his diocese; also, the seat of a pope.

   Pope Joan, who once occupied the throne of the Vatican, was reputed to be the blackest sorcerer of them all.

   1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 105

   Synonyms: cathedra

4. euphemisticA toilet.

   "If she has intestinal flu, you probably called while she was on the throne and she didn't want to admit it," Alan said dryly.

   1991 October, Stephen King, Needful Things, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 169

   Synonyms: can, chamber, chamber pot, chemical toilet, commode, Cousin John, crapper, gazunder

5. entertainmentA kind of stool used by drummers.
6. ChristianityA member of an order of angels ranked above dominions and below cherubim.

   16 For by him were all things created that are in heauen, and that are in earth, visible and inuisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

   New International Version translation: ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Colossians 1:16–16, signature [T4], recto, column 2

present singular third person thrones · participle present throning · participle past throned · past throned

1. archaictransitiveTo place on a royal seat; to enthrone.
2. archaictransitiveTo place in an elevated position; to give sovereignty or dominion to; to exalt.

   True image of the Father, whether throned / In the bosom of bliss, and light of light.

   1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 4

3. archaicintransitiveTo be in, or sit upon, a throne; to be placed as if upon a throne.