Middle English Dictionary Entry
lonǧitūde n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lonǧitūde n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Length, height; after ~, along the length (of a man), vertically; (b) geog. the angular distance from a meridian of reference to the meridian of any place; (c) astron. the angular distance eastward along the ecliptic from the vernal equinoctial point to the great circle projection of any given celestial point on the ecliptic.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)11b/a : Þe browez..bene ordeyned with herez. Inscisions aboute þise particulez owe to be done after þe longitude [*Ch.(2): lengþe; L longitudinem] of þe body, for so goþ þe musclez þat moueþ þe browez & noȝt after the ronklez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)18b/a : It [matrix] haþ longitude [*Ch.(2): lengþe; L longitudinem] as þe ȝerde of 8 or 9 fyngers.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)45b/a : Inscisionz..oweþ to be made..Bacward byhynde þe erez euenly..And I vnderstonde euenly, i. after longitude.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.431 : An handful greet in crassitude..And cubital let make her longitude [L longitudine].
- a1500 Heights Men (Lamb 306) : The longitude of men folowyng: Moyses xiij fote and viij ynches and half, [etc.].
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.45 : The longitude [Trev.: lengþe; L Longitudo] of the erthe habitable from the este to the weste..hathe viijthe tymes v tymes a clxxti myles and viijthe, The dimension of the longitude of whom is more compendious by the see then by the londe.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Just Measure (Hrl 2251)4 : Al thyng that is contryved Standith in proporcioun..Whether it be depnesse or longitude..Nothyng commendyd but it in mesure be.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.121 : Arthure..other all of Brytons vasselage By his shoulders exceded in longitude.
b
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.39. head., 19,28 : The descripcion..of longitudes..of citees and townes, as wel as of climates..of eny 2 cytes or 2 townes, of which that oo town approchith more toward the est than doth that othir town, truste wel that thilke townes han diverse meridians. Nota also that the arch of the equinoxial that is contened or bownded bitwixe the 2 meridians is clepid the longitude of the toun..The longitude of a climat is a lyne ymagined fro est to west ilike distant fro the equinoxiall.
c
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.17.27 : In the ecliptik is the longitude of a celestiall body rekned, evene fro the heved of Aries unto the ende of Pisces.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.40.4 : Know by thin almenak the degre of the ecliptik of eny signe in which that the planete is rekned for to be, and that is clepid the degre of his longitude.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.40.59 : The degre peraventure of Jupiter..was in the first degre of Piscis in longitude.