Latin
Latin definition
Latin (lat′'n)
adjective
- of ancient Latium or its people
- of ancient Rome or its people
- of or in the language of ancient Latium and ancient Rome
- designating or of the languages derived from Latin, the peoples that speak them, or their countries or cultures
- of or relating to Latin Americans
- 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
- a person born or living in ancient Latium or ancient Rome
- the Italic language of ancient Latium and ancient Rome
- a person whose language is derived from Latin, as a Spaniard, Italian, or Latin American
- 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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