a. and sb. [f. L. lātitūdin-, -tūdo LATITUDE + -AL.]
1. Relating to breadth or width. rare.
1676. Grew, Anat. Plants, I. ii. § 28 (1682), 17. The Latitudinal growth of the Root.
1879. J. M. Duncan, Lect. Dis. Women, i. (1889), 2. Bounded below by a horizontal or latitudinal line which joins the iliac crests.
2. Relating to, connected with, or depending on geographical latitude; corresponding with lines of latitude.
1778. Sir G. Shuckburgh, in Phil. Trans., LXVIII. 687, note. Between the lat. 56° and 79° … the zero of the scale moves through a space of no less than 32°; whereas, between the lat. 46° and 56° it is perfectly stationary … which great want of proportion … is of itself some argument against the existence of such a latitudinal equation.
1855. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, v. § 289. The latitudinal limits of the northern edge of the northeast trade-winds are variable.
1867. Rawlinson, Anc. Mon., IV. i. 31. Its principal mountain ranges are latitudinal, or from west to east.
1874. Coues, Birds N. W., 19. In respect of latitudinal distribution the Tufted Titmouse offers much the same case as the Blue-gray Gnat-catcher.
1880. Haughton, Phys. Geog., v. 204. The latitudinal width of this part of Africa is 63°.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 137. The latitudinal and altitudinal relations of hepatic abscess.
† B. sb. Anat. The name of two muscles of the epigastrium. Obs.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., I j b. Of what villes is the stomacke composed…. Of longytudynalles to drawe in & tranuersalles to reteyne & latitudinalles to put forth.
1548–77. Vicary, Anat., viii. (1888), 63. Two Latitudinales comming from the backe-wards to the wombe.
Hence Latitudinally adv., in respect of breadth or latitude.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, II. vii. The bones … in the skin of Jackeymo spread out latitudinally.
1884. Manch. Exam., 20 Aug., 6/3. This submarine swamp extends fifty miles latitudinally.
