LONGITUDE

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin longitudin-, longitudo, from longus Date: 14th century 1. angular distance measured on a great circle of reference from the intersection of the adopted zero meridian with this reference circle to the similar intersection of the meridian passing through the object, the arc or portion of the earth's equator intersected between the meridian of a given place and the prime meridian and expressed either in degrees or in time, long duration