Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Latitude \Lat"i*tude\, n. [F. latitude, L. latitudo, fr. latus
   broad, wide, for older stlatus; perh. akin to E. strew.]
   1. Extent from side to side, or distance sidewise from a
      given point or line; breadth; width.

            Provided the length do not exceed the latitude above
            one third part.                       --Sir H.
                                                  Wotton.

   2. Room; space; freedom from confinement or restraint; hence,
      looseness; laxity; independence.

            In human actions there are no degrees and precise
            natural limits described, but a latitude is
            indulged.                             --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.

Ascending \As*cend"ing\, a.
   Rising; moving upward; as, an ascending kite. --
   {As*cend"ing*ly}, adv.

   {Ascending latitude} (Astron.), the increasing latitude of a
      planet. --Ferguson.

   {Ascending line} (Geneol.), the line of relationship traced
      backward or through one's ancestors. One's father and
      mother, grandfather and grandmother, etc., are in the line
      direct ascending.

   {Ascending node} having, that node of the moon or a planet
      wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed northward. It is
      also called the {northern node}. --Herschel.

   {Ascending series}. (Math.)
   (a) A series arranged according to the ascending powers of a
       quantity.
   (b) A series in which each term is greater than the
       preceding.

   {Ascending signs}, signs east of the meridian.