Part 603

Jer. Taylor.

3. Extent or breadth of signification, application, etc.; extent of deviation from a standard, as truth, style, etc.

No discreet man will believe Augustine's miracles, in the latitude of monkish relations.

Fuller.

4. Extent; size; amplitude; scope.

I pretend not to treat of them in their full latitude.

Locke.

5. (Geog.) Distance north or south of the equator, measured on a meridian.

6. (Astron.) The angular distance of a heavenly body from the ecliptic.

Ascending latitude, Circle of latitude, Geographical latitude, etc. See under Ascending. Circle, etc. -- High latitude, that part of the earth's surface near either pole, esp. that part within either the arctic or the antarctic circle. -- Low latitude, that part of the earth's surface which is near the equator.

Lat`i*tu"di*nal (?), a. Of or pertaining to latitude; in the direction of latitude.

Lat`i*tu`di*na"ri*an (?), a. [Cf. F. latitudinaire.] 1. Not restrained; not confined by precise limits.

2. Indifferent to a strict application of any standard of belief or opinion; hence, deviating more or less widely from such standard; lax in doctrine; as, latitudinarian divines; latitudinarian theology.

Latitudinarian sentiments upon religious subjects.

Allibone.

3. Lax in moral or religious principles.

Lat`i*tu`di*na"ri*an, n. 1. One who is moderate in his notions, or not restrained by precise settled limits in opinion; one who indulges freedom in thinking.

2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) A member of the Church of England, in the time of Charles II., who adopted more liberal notions in respect to the authority, government, and doctrines of the church than generally prevailed.

They were called "men of latitude;" and upon this, men of narrow thoughts fastened upon them the name of latitudinarians.

Bp. Burnet.

3. (Theol.) One who departs in opinion from the strict principles of orthodoxy.

Lat`i*tu`di*na"ri*an*ism (?), n. A latitudinarian system or condition; freedom of opinion in matters pertaining to religious belief.

Fierce sectarianism bred fierce latitudinarianism.

De Quincey.

He [Ammonius Saccas] plunged into the wildest latitudinarianism of opinion.

J. S. Harford.

Lat`i*tu"di*nous (?), a. Having latitude, or wide extent.

{ Lat"on (?), Lat"oun (?), } n. Latten, 1. [Obs.] Chaucer.