ˈlad.]əˌtüd, -atə-, -ə.ˌtyüd noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin latitudin-, latitudo, from latus wide + -tudin-, -tudo -tude; akin to Old Slavic po stĭlati to spread, Armenian lain wide
1.
a. archaic : extent or distance from side to side : breadth
b.
(1) : angular distance from some specified circle or plane of reference ; specifically : angular distance north or south from the earth's equator measured through 90 degrees with the length of a degree varying from 68.704 statute miles at the equator to 69.407 at the poles because of the flattened figure of the earth — compare astronomical latitude , celestial latitude , galactic latitude , geomagnetic latitude
(2) : a region or locality as marked by its latitude — usually used in plural
silences them earlier than the sun of our latitudes — Richard Semon
c.
(1) : the projection on the meridian of a given course in a plane survey equal to the length of the course multiplied by the cosine of its bearing
(2) : the distance of a point in a survey from a specified east-west line of reference
2.
a. archaic
(1) : extent , amplitude
indulged himself in the utmost possible latitude of sail — T.L.Peacock
(2) : scope , range
b.
(1) : the range of exposures within which a film or plate will produce a negative or positive of satisfactory quality
(2) : the permissible variation from the recommended development time without noticeable change of image contrast
3. : freedom of action or decision especially in selecting from a variety of courses or opinions : permitted or tolerated range or variety of action or opinion
in foreign affairs alone he allowed himself a certain latitude — John Buchan
took action to restrict the latitude of the chairman in determining the course of the committee's action — New York Times
allow him greater latitude in expressing his opinions — Current Biography
[s]latitude.jpg[/s] [
latitude 1b: hemisphere marked with parallels of latitude
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