Etymology and origin of the Latin word longitudinalis
- Confidence
- Established
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 1220–1235 Robert Grosseteste More words from the 13th century
- Ultimate origin
- Latin longitūdō
Etymology tree
From the same root
Forms
longitūdinālis (neuter longitūdināle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]
Etymology
It is a Medieval Latin word,[2][1] formed from Latin longitūdō (“length”) + -ālis.[1][3] The base is itself derived from longus (“long”).[4]
Earliest recorded meaning
Köbler's first record is Robert Grosseteste (1220–1235),[1] who uses it in natural philosophy of the diameter of a struck body that runs lengthwise, as opposed to the transverse diameters.[2]
Semantic evolution
In British Medieval Latin it described what runs lengthwise;[2] John Wycliffe's Logic sets it beside latitudinalis and altitudinalis for the three dimensions of the world.[2] Medical writers used it of incisions or muscles running along the length of an organ.[3]
In Neo-Latin astronomy it came to mean “relating to longitude”: Copernicus speaks of the longitudinal motion of Mercury, and Gassendi of the difference in longitude between two cities.[5]
Timeline
- 1220–1235 – Robert Grosseteste uses it of a diameter running lengthwise through a body.[1][2]
- late 14th century – Borrowed into English as longitudinal.[4]
- c. 1509 – Copernicus applies it to the motion of Mercury in longitude.[5]
- 1630 – Gassendi writes of the difference in longitude between his city and Tübingen.[5]
Meanings
Adjective
- Running lengthwise, longitudinal.[2][5]
- Elongated, stretched out in length.[3]
- (New Latin, astronomy) Relating to longitude.[5]
Related words
- longus
- English longitudinal
References
- ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ a b c d e f Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
- ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b c d e Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
Cite this entry
“Longitudinalis.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/longitudinalis. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.
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