ultramontane

(ŭl'trə-mŏn'tān', -mŏn-tān')
adj.

1. Of or relating to peoples or regions lying beyond the mountains, especially the Alps.
2. Roman Catholic Church.
   1. Supporting the authority of the papal court over national or diocesan authority.
   2. Relating to or supporting the doctrine of papal supremacy.

n.

1. One who lives beyond the mountains, especially south of the Alps.
2. often Ultramontane Roman Catholic Church. One who advocates support of papal policy in ecclesiastical and political matters.

[Medieval Latin ultrāmontānus : Latin ultrā-, ultra- + Latin montānus, of mountains (from mōns, mont-, mountain).]

View more Miscellaneous videos

[fr. Med. L. ultramontanus, beyond the mountain]
1) situated beyond the (Alps) mountains
2) of or relating to ultramontanism: advocating the greatest possible enhancement of papal power and authority [from the fact that the papal seat was located the other side of the Alps from the French]; hence, ultramontanist: a supporter of ultramontanism
3) claiming an absolute supremacy or a privileged superiority