Forms: 4–7 climat, clymat, (5 pl. clematis), 6–7 clymate, 6– climate. [a. F. climat (pl. in 14th c. climas), ad. late L. clima, climat- climate, region, a. Gr. κλίμα, κλίματ- inclination or slope, f. kli- root of κλίν-ειν to slope, lean, incline. The meaning passed in Greek through the senses of ‘slope of ground, e.g., of a mountain range,’ the supposed ‘slope or inclination of the earth and sky from the equator to the poles,’ ‘the zone or region of the earth occupying a particular elevation on this slope, i.e., lying in the same parallel of latitude,’ ‘a clime,’ in which sense it was adopted in late L.]
† 1. A belt of the earth’s surface contained between two given parallels of latitude. Obs.
In early ages 7 climates were reckoned, supposed to be presided over by the 7 planets; of these, the central lines passed respectively through Meroe 17°, Syene 24° Alexandria 31°, Rhodes 36°, Rome 41°, Borysthenes 45°, and the Riphæan Mountains 48° N. Later, the space between the equator and each of the polar circles was divided into 24 climates, each corresponding to an increase of half-an-hour in the length of the longest day. See Skeat, Note to Chaucer’s Astrolabe, II. § 39.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 701. How that the disposicioune [of the hevyn] Suld apon thingis virk heir doune, On regiones, or on climatis.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 39. Þe latitude of a climat.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 107. They [i.e., the stars] causen many a wonder To the climats, that stond hem under.
c. 1400. Maundev., xv. (1839), 162. They [of Ynde] ben in the firste Clymat, that is of Saturne … Wee ben in the seventh Clymat, that is of the Mone.
1564. Bulleyn, Dial. agst. Feuer Pest. (1888), 96. The Islandes called Fortunato or Canaria, whose west partes be situated in the thirde Climate.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., II. § 1 (1656). I was borne in the eighth Climate.
1683. Brit. Spec., 3. It [Britain] is situated … under the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth Climates.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 42. There are 24 climates between the equator and each of the polar circles. There are 30 climates between the equator and either pole.
1796. [see CLIMATURE].
† b. More vaguely: A region of the earth, a ‘clime.’ Obs. exc. as in 2.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 5 b. [Hermes] establisshed to the people of euery clymat lawes couenable … to thair opinions.
1557. Paynel, Barclay’s Jugurth, 17. A few other authors hold … that vnder climate of that part which is called Europe, the third part named Affrike is comprehended.
1605. J. Dove, Confut. Atheism, 31. When the Sunne is Eclipsed, all the earth is not darkened, but onely one Climat.
1794. Godwin, Cal. Williams, 317. Was the world, with all its climates, made in vain for thy … victim?
2. A region considered with reference to its atmospheric conditions, or to its weather.
[1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XV. xi. (1495), 492. Alania … is a full brode londe and is under a colde Clima.]
1601. Holland, Pliny, XVIII. vi. 554. If the countrey or climat be hot, an house must stand into [i.e., face] the North.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 274. O flours, That never will in other Climate grow.
1698. Keill, Exam. Th. Earth (1734), 209. In the temperate and habitable Climates.
1769. Junius Lett., iv. 23. Climates unfavourable to British Constitution.
1831. Sir J. Sinclair, Corr., II. 238. The husbandry of Norway, and other northern climates.
1874. Helps, Soc. Press., iii. 55. We live in a very rainy and a very capricious climate.
3. Condition (of a region or country) in relation to prevailing atmospheric phenomena, as temperature, dryness or humidity, wind, clearness or dullness of sky, etc., esp. as these affect human, animal or vegetable life.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., III. i. 1. The Clymat’s delicate, the Ayre most sweet.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), 31/1. It was no wonder if England was generally thought secure, with the advantages of its own Climate.
1662. Gerbier, Princ., 24. This Climat makes Marble it self to Moulder.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. xv. 320. We had always the same climate in all the rooms.
1765. A. Dickson, Treat. Agric., 139. The wetness of land, arising from the climate or season.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Land, Wks. (Bohn), II. 17. The climate is warmer by many degrees than it is entitled to by latitude.
1860. Cornh. Mag., II. 566. Climate is properly the long average of weather in a single place.
1880. Haughton, Phys. Geog., iii. 74. ‘Climate’ may be defined as the complex effect of external conditions of heat and moisture upon the life of plants and animals.
b. fig. (Cf. atmosphere.)
1874. Morley, Compromise (1886), 21. The general mental climate … has … ceased to be invigorating.
† 4. The period between two climacteric years; = CLIMACTER. Obs.
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep. (1577), 166. That which the Physician doth call Terme in the sicke man, is called in the whole by the Philosopher Climate.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589), 531. In the whole course of our life we live under one only climate, which is either from seven, or from nine yeeres, except in the yeere of 63, wherein two terminations or climates ende.
5. Comb., as climate-cure; climate-beaten a., battered by a (tropical) climate.
1787. Burns, Border Tour, Wks. (Globe), 570. A good-hearted, climate-beaten, old veteran, in the medical line.
1878. trans. Ziemssen’s Cycl. Med., XIII. 175. The chief value ascribed to the breathing of sea-air, to the climate cure.
