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Latin definition

Latin (lat'n)

adjective

  1. of ancient Latium or its people
  2. of ancient Rome or its people
  3. of or in the language of ancient Latium and ancient Rome
    1. designating or of the languages derived from Latin, the peoples that speak them, or their countries or cultures
    2. of or relating to Latin Americans
  4. of the Roman Catholic Church, esp. as distinguished from the Eastern Church

Etymology: L Latinus < Latium, Latium (in which Rome was included), orig. ? “flat land” < IE *tletiom < base *(s)tel-, to spread out > L latus, broad

noun

  1. a person born or living in ancient Latium or ancient Rome
  2. the Italic language of ancient Latium and ancient Rome
  3. a person whose language is derived from Latin, as a Spaniard, Italian, or Latin American
  4. a Roman Catholic: so called esp. by Eastern Christians

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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