[lon.gi.tude] n [ME, fr. L longitudin-, longitudo, fr. longus] (14c) 1 a: 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 b: 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
2. archaic: long duration