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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
  5. 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

Latin Synonyms

Latin

modif.

  1. Pertaining to ancient Rome or to its language

    Roman, Romanic, Latinic; see classical 2.

  2. Pertaining to southwestern Europe

    Latinate, Roman, Gallic, Mediterranean, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese.

Latin Synonyms

Latin

n.

  1. Roman language, Romance language, language of Latium; see language 2.

    Divisions of Latin include: classical, Golden Age, Silver Age, provincial, Late, medieval, Vulgar, monks', made Latin, church, New, Modern.

  2. Languages descended from Latin include: Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, Provençal, Rhaeto-Romanic, Italian, Romanian, French.