Word origin · etymology
Classical roots in an English compound.
Latitude comes from Latin latitudo, breadth. Here that breadth is angular distance north or south of the ecliptic.
How we know · epistemology
Astronomical geometry
The coordinate follows from an object’s direction relative to the ecliptic plane. It can distinguish objects sharing a longitude; it should not be read as geographic latitude or personal temperament.
Connected concepts
Terms used in this explanation
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These links connect subjects and terminology. They do not establish a shared historical origin.
Sources & provenance
Use the citations beside each section to distinguish a calculation convention, a historical teaching and an editorial example.