longitude

[French, from Lat. long it udo = length, duration, from long us =long.] *I. Ord. Lang.: Length. II. Technically: 1. Astron.: The distance in degrees reckoned along the ecliptic from the spring equinox to a circle at right angles to it pa ing through the heavenly body whose longitude is required. A star situated directly in the line between the pole of the ecliptic and the vernal equinox has no longitude. In place of celestial longitudes right ascensions are now generally noted. 2. Geog .: Distance on the surface of the globe. The longitude of a place is the arc of the equator intercepted between the meridian of the place and a meridian pa ing through some other place from which longitude is reckoned. Longitude, in this country, is reckoned from the meridians of Washington, Green wich, and Paris. Longitude is expre ed in degrees, minutes, and seconds, or in time, 15° being equivalent to one hour. It is reckoned to 180° east or west. IMG:content-0708.png:[blocks in formation] Astron. ( pl .): Certain stars whose exact position is known, and which may be used as aids in calculating celestial longitudes. lõn-gi-tūd-in-al, a . & s . [Lat. long it udo , gen it. longitudin(is); Eng. adj. suff. -al .] [LONGITUDE.] A. As adj .: Pertaining to longitude or length; as, longitudinal extent; extending or running lengthwise; as, a longitudinal timber. B. As subst .: A railway sleeper laid parallel with the rails. longitudinal-dehiscence, s. Bot . ( of an anther ): Dehiscence in the direction of -i. e., along, not acro , the cells. longitudinal-sinus, s . [SINUS.] longitudinal-tension, s. Bot.: Tension in the direction of the growing structure in a plant. lon-gì-tūd-in-al-ly, adv. [Eng. longitudinal; -ly.] In a longitudinal manner or direction; length wise. - Barrow: Of the Pope's Supremacy. cause the examination of truth to become over dilatory." tudinally ."- Paley : Natural Theology , ch. viii.