altitude English · revision 14945

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1386|origins=la altus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈæl.tɪ.tʃuːd/, US /ˈæl.tə.tuːd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|altitūdō|t=height]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|altus|t=high]] (see [[old]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) literally “grown tall”, from [[ine-pro|*al-|t=to grow, nourish]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The height of a star or planet above the horizon: about 1386 in Barnhart, about 1391 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Height or vertical extent in general is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a high or exalted position from before 1400.^(OED 1989) Elevated regions are altitudes from 1432–50,^(OED 1989) height above sea level from 1535,^(OED 1989) and the height of a triangle in geometry from 1570.^(OED 1989) The same Latin word is behind [[altar]], [[enhance]], [[exalt]] and [[haughty]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1386 – altitude of a star.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1400 – an exalted position.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1420 – height in general.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1535 – height above sea level.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1570 – altitude (geometry).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Height above a reference level, especially above sea level.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A high place or region, often in the plural.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(astronomy, navigation)'' The angular distance of a heavenly body above the horizon.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(geometry)'' The perpendicular distance from a vertex to the base of a figure.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[altitudinal]]

+ * [[altitudinous]]

+ * [[altazimuth]]

+ * [[altimetry]]

+ * [[absolute altitude]]

+ * [[altitude sickness]]

+ * [[pressure altitude]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[altar]]

+ * [[alto]]

+ * [[exalt]]

+ * [[haughty]]

+ * [[old]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}