American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth
Edition - n. One of a set of seats, usually three, provided in
some Roman Catholic and Anglican churches for the use of the
presiding clergy, traditionally placed on the epistle side of
the choir near the altar, and in Gothic-style churches often
built into the wall. Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia - n.
Eccles., one of the seats within the sanctuary provided
originally or specifically for the celebrant of the mass (or
holy communion) and his assistants. The sedilia are typically
three in number, for the use of the priest, the deacon, and the
subdeacon, and in England are often recesses constructed in the
south wall of the chancel, and generally enriched with carving.
The name is sometimes also used for non-structural seats serving
the same purpose. The singular Sedile is little used. See cut on
following page. - Latin sedīle, seat, from sedēre, to sit; see
sed- in Indo-European roots. (American Heritage® Dictionary of
the English Language, Fourth