1. 1. The Indo-European language of the ancient Latins and Romans and the most important cultural language of western Europe until the end of the 17th century.
   2. The Latin language and literature from the end of the third century B.C. to the end of the second century A.D.
2. 1. A member of a Latin people, especially a native or inhabitant of Latin America.
   2. A Latino or Latina.
3. A native or resident of ancient Latium.

1. Of, relating to, or composed in Latin: a Latin scholar; Latin verse.
2. 1. Of or relating to ancient Rome, its people, or its culture.
   2. Of or relating to Latium, its people, or its culture.
3. Of or relating to the languages that developed from Latin, such as Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, or to the peoples that speak them.
4. 1. Of or relating to the peoples, countries, or cultures of Latin America.
   2. Of or relating to Latinos or their culture.
5. Of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church.

[Middle English, from Old French and from Old English lǣden, both from Latin Latīnus, from Latium, an ancient country of west-central Italy.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.