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From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 Al·ti·tude n.
 1. Space extended upward; height; the perpendicular elevation of an object above its foundation, above the ground, or above a given level, or of one object above another; as, the altitude of a mountain, or of a bird above the top of a tree.
 2. Astron. The elevation of a point, or star, or other celestial object, above the horizon, measured by the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between such point and the horizon. It is either true or apparent; true when measured from the rational or real horizon, apparent when from the sensible or apparent horizon.
 3. Geom. The perpendicular distance from the base of a figure to the summit, or to the side parallel to the base; as, the altitude of a triangle, pyramid, parallelogram, frustum, etc.
 4. Height of degree; highest point or degree.
    He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue.   --Shak.
 5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority.
 6. pl. Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs. [Colloq.]
    The man of law began to get into his altitude.   --Sir W. Scott.
 Meridian altitude, an arc of the meridian intercepted between the south point on the horizon and any point on the meridian. See Meridian, 3.