Al"ti*tude (&?;), 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.
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.
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.
4. Height of degree; highest point or
degree.
He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue.
Shak.
5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority.
Swift.
6. pl. Elevation of spirits; heroics;
haughty airs. [Colloq.] Richardson.
The man of law began to get into his altitude.
Sir W. Scott.
Meridian altitude, an arc of the meridian
intercepted between the south point on the horizon and any point on the
meridian. See Meridian, 3.
