Part 353

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<h1>Altisonant</h1> <Xpage=45>

<hw>Al*tis"o*nant</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>altus</ets> high + <ets>sonans</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>sonare</ets> to sound.]</ety> <def>High-sounding; lofty or pompous.</def>

<i>Skelton.</i>

<h1>Altisonous</h1> <Xpage=45>

<hw>Al*tis"o*nous</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>altisonus</ets>.]</ety> <def>Altisonant.</def>

<h1>Altissimo</h1> <Xpage=45>

<hw>Al*tis"si*mo</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[It.; superl. of <ets>alto</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <def>The part or notes situated above F in alt.</def>

<h1>Altitude</h1> <Xpage=45>

<hw>Al"ti*tude</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>altitudo</ets>, fr. <ets>altus</ets> high. Cf. <er>Altar</er>, <er>Haughty</er>, <er>Enhance</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Space extended upward; height; the perpendicular elevation of an object above its foundation, above the ground, or above a given level, or of one object above another; <as>as, the <ex>altitude</ex> of a mountain, or of a bird above the top of a tree</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Astron.)</fld> <def>The elevation of a point, or star, or other celestial object, above the horizon, measured by the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between such point and the horizon. It is either <i>true</i> or <i>apparent</i>; <i>true</i> when measured from the rational or real <i>horizon</i>, <i>apparent</i> when from the sensible or apparent horizon.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Geom.)</fld> <def>The perpendicular distance from the base of a figure to the summit, or to the side parallel to the base; <as>as, the <ex>altitude</ex> of a triangle, pyramid, parallelogram, frustum, etc.</as></def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Height of degree; highest point or degree.</def>

<blockquote>He is [proud] even to the <b>altitude</b> of his virtue. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Height of rank or excellence; superiority.</def>

<i>Swift.</i>

<p><b>6.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs.</def> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark>

<i>Richardson.</i>

<blockquote>The man of law began to get into his <b>altitude</b>. <i>Sir W. Scott.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Meridian altitude</col>, <cd>an arc of the meridian intercepted between the south point on the horizon and any point on the meridian. See <er>Meridian</er>, 3.</cd></cs>

<h1>Altitudinal</h1> <Xpage=45>

<hw>Al`ti*tu"di*nal</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Of or pertaining to height; <as>as, <ex>altitudinal</ex> measurements</as>.</def>

<h1>Altitudinarian</h1> <Xpage=45>

<hw>Al`ti*tu`di*na"ri*an</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Lofty in doctrine, aims, etc.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Coleridge.</i>

<h1>Altivolant</h1> <Xpage=45>

<hw>Al*tiv"o*lant</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>altivolans</ets>. See <er>Volant</er>.]</ety> <def>Flying high.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Blount.</i>