altĭtūdo, dĭnis, f. [altus], height or depth (cf. alo, p. a. init.).
- I. Height, altitude (syn.: altum, cacumen, culmen, vertex, apex).
- A. Lit.: altitudinem temperato, Cato, R. R. 22, 23: altitudo aedium, Cic. Off. 3, 16: montium, id. Agr. 2, 19; Vulg. Isa. 37, 24: in hac immensitate altitudinum, Cic. N. D. 1, 20: navis, Caes. B. G. 4, 25: muri, Nep. Them. 6, 5: moenium, Tac. H. 3, 20; so absol.: fore altitudines, quas cepissent hostes (sc. montium), heights, Liv. 27, 18.
- B. Trop., height, loftiness: elatio atque altitudo orationis, Cic. Brut. 17: fortunae et gloriae, id. Rab. Post. 16: animi, greatness of soul, nobleness of mind, id. Fam. 4, 13, 7; so Liv. 4, 6 fin.; Gell. 17, 2 et saep.
- II. Depth (syn.: altum, profundum).
- A. Lit.: spelunca infinitā altitudine, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 48; so id. ib. 2, 5, 27; id. Div. 1, 43: fluminis, Caes. B. G. 4, 17: maris, id. ib. 4, 25: terrae, Vulg. Matt. 13, 5; ib. Marc. 4, 5: plagae, Cels. 7, 7, § 9.
- B. Trop., depth, extent (eccl. Lat.): O altitudo divitiarum sapientiae et scientiae Dei, Vulg. Rom. 11, 33.
Spec., depth of soul, secrecy, reserve, Gr βαθύτης: exercenda est facilitas et altitudo animi, quae dicitur, i. e. a serenity or calmness that conceals the real feelings, Cic. Off. 1, 25, 88.
In mal. part.: ad simulanda negotia altitudo ingenii incredibilis, Sall. J. 95, 3: per illos dies egit altitudine animi, Tac. A. 3, 44; id. H. 4, 86: altitudines Satanae, deep plots, Vulg. Apoc. 2, 24.