Latin

 
Pronunciation: /ˈlatɪn/

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] the language of ancient Rome and its empire, widely used historically as a language of scholarship and administration.
  • 2a native or inhabitant of a country whose language developed from Latin, especially a Latin American.
  • historical an inhabitant of ancient Latium.
  • 3 [mass noun] music of a kind originating in Latin America, characterized by dance rhythms and extensive use of indigenous percussion instruments: eclectic jazz through Latin into soulful grooves

adjective

  • 1relating to Latin: Latin poetry
  • relating to the countries using languages, such as French and Spanish, that developed from Latin: Mexico and other Latin countries
  • relating to the Western or Roman Catholic Church (as historically using Latin for its rites): the Latin patriarch of Antioch
  • historical relating to ancient Latium.
  • 2relating to or characteristic of Latin American music: snapping his fingers to a Latin beat

Derivatives

Latinism

noun

Latinist

noun

Origin:

from Latin Latinus 'of Latium' (see Latium)