altitudo Latin · revision 30996

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=itc-pro *alto-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [aɫ.tɪˈtuː.doː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [al.tiˈtuː.do]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''altitūdō''' ''f'' (genitive altitūdinis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|altus|-tūdō|t1=high; deep]].^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline) De Vaan traces ⟨altus⟩ to [[itc-pro|*alto-|t=high]] and, with a query, [[ine-pro|*h₂el-to-]], cognate with [[sga|alt|t=height, bank, coast]] and [[cy|allt|t=hillside]].^(de Vaan 2008) The adjective has the same form as the participle of [[m|la|alō|t=to nourish]], but de Vaan finds the meanings hard to connect.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan's first author is Cato, whose ''De agri cultura'' tells the builder to regulate the height of a structure.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is height, the extent upwards, as Caesar's mountain of great height, and of people and animals their stature, Gellius uses it of the pitch of the voice.^(OLD 2012) It is a high position, height above the earth (Cicero on the stars), and figuratively eminence of rank and fame.^(OLD 2012) It is also the vertical, a height or summit, and in geometry the third dimension, which Varro sets beside length and breadth.^(OLD 2012) Downwards it is depth, of water or a pit, as in Varro.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “depth, height, high place”.^(Stelten 1995) English ''altitude'' (late 14th century) first meant the elevation of a star above the horizon.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of the height of a structure.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of depth and of the third dimension.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of eminence.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of mountains.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English [[m|en|altitude]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|height|alt=Height]], tallness, ''(of sound)'' pitch.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A high position, ''(figuratively)'' [[m|en|eminence]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A height, high place; the top.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(geometry)'' The third dimension, height, thickness.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|depth|alt=Depth]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[altō]]

+ * [[altus]]

+ * [[en|altitude]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}