[ad. L. Laterān-a, Laterān-um.] The name of a locality in Rome, originally the site of the palace belonging to the family of the Plautii Laterani, afterwards of the palace of the popes of the same name, and the cathedral church known as St. John Lateran [L. Sancti Joannis in Laterano]. Also attrib. or as adj. (= Eccl. L. Lateranensis), esp. with reference to the five general councils of the Western Church held in the church of St. John Lateran.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1568. [Nero] let hit rere a noble court … & clupede laterane [v.r. þe court laterane]. Ibid., 1573. Þe verste churche þat me let in þe world rere, Seint Jones de lateran.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 18 b. The decrees of the last counsel of Laterane. Ibid., 19. Then called he a Counsell agaynste the nexte yeare, to begynne at Rome … in the Churche Laterane.
1692. Burnet, Past. Care, v. 92. The Thirteenth Canon of the Third Lateran Council, runs thus.
1727–52. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., A church called S. John of Lateran. Ibid., Canons Regular of the Congregation of the Lateran.
1845. Sarah Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., I. 333. The decision of the Lateran council.
1896. Ch. Times, 1 May, 505/4. The Lateran and Tridentine dogma of Transubstantiation.
