n. Lofty speech; pompous language. [ R. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. altus (adv. alte) high + loquens, p. pr. of loqui to speak. ] High-sounding; pompous in speech. [ R. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. altimeter; altus high + metrum, Gr. &unr_;, measure: cf. F. altimètre. ] An instrument for taking altitudes, as a quadrant, sextant, etc. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. altimétrie. ] The art of measuring altitudes, or heights. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Tincal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. altus high + Gr. &unr_; to view. ] An arrangement of lenses and mirrors which enables a person to see an object in spite of intervening objects. Since the early 1900's, most commonly called periscope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. altus high + sonans, p. pr. of sonare to sound. ] High-sounding; lofty or pompous. Skelton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. altisonus. ] Altisonant. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ It.; superl. of alto. ] (Mus.) The part or notes situated above F in alt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. altitudo, fr. altus high. Cf. Altar, Haughty, Enhance. ] 1. 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, the altitude of a mountain, or of a bird above the top of a tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astron.) 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 true or apparent; true when measured from the rational or real horizon, apparent when from the sensible or apparent horizon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Geom.) The perpendicular distance from the base of a figure to the summit, or to the side parallel to the base; as, the altitude of a triangle, pyramid, parallelogram, frustum, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Height of degree; highest point or degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is [ proud ] even to the altitude of his virtue. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. pl. Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs. [ Colloq. ] Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The man of law began to get into his altitude. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Meridian altitude, an arc of the meridian intercepted between the south point on the horizon and any point on the meridian. See Meridian, 3. [ 1913 Webster ]