Latin

Latin [lat′'n]

adj.

[L Latinus < Latium, Latium (in which Rome was included), orig. ? “flat land” < IE * tletiom < base * (s)tel-, to spread out > L latus, broad]

1. of ancient Latium or its people

2. of ancient Rome or its people

3. of or in the language of ancient Latium and ancient Rome

4.

a) designating or of the languages derived from Latin, the peoples that speak them, or their countries or cultures

b) of or relating to Latin Americans

5. of the Roman Catholic Church, esp. as distinguished from the Eastern Church

n.

1. a person born or living in ancient Latium or ancient Rome

2. the Italic language of ancient Latium and ancient Rome: see also OLD LATIN, LATE LATIN, LOW LATIN, MEDIEVAL LATIN, MODERN LATIN

3. a person whose language is derived from Latin, as a Spaniard, Italian, or Latin American

4. a Roman Catholic: so called esp. by Eastern Christians