The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Latitude \Lat"i*tude\, n. [F. latitude, L. latitudo, fr. latus
   broad, wide, for older stlatus; perh. akin to E. strew.]
   1. Extent from side to side, or distance sidewise from a
      given point or line; breadth; width.
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            Provided the length do not exceed the latitude above
            one third part.                       --Sir H.
                                                  Wotton.
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   2. Room; space; freedom from confinement or restraint; hence,
      looseness; laxity; independence.
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            In human actions there are no degrees and precise
            natural limits described, but a latitude is
            indulged.                             --Jer. Taylor.
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   3. Extent or breadth of signification, application, etc.;
      extent of deviation from a standard, as truth, style, etc.
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            No discreet man will believe Augustine's miracles,
            in the latitude of monkish relations. --Fuller.
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   4. Extent; size; amplitude; scope.
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            I pretend not to treat of them in their full
            latitude.                             --Locke.
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   5. (Geog.) Distance north or south of the equator, measured
      on a meridian.
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   6. (Astron.) The angular distance of a heavenly body from the
      ecliptic.
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   Ascending latitude, Circle of latitude, Geographical
   latitude, etc. See under Ascending. Circle, etc.

   High latitude, that part of the earth's surface near either
      pole, esp. that part within either the arctic or the
      antarctic circle.

   Low latitude, that part of the earth's surface which is
      near the equator.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ascending \As*cend"ing\, a.
   Rising; moving upward; as, an ascending kite. --
   As*cend"ing*ly, adv.
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   Ascending latitude (Astron.), the increasing latitude of a
      planet. --Ferguson.

   Ascending line (Geneol.), the line of relationship traced
      backward or through one's ancestors. One's father and
      mother, grandfather and grandmother, etc., are in the line
      direct ascending.

   Ascending node having, that node of the moon or a planet
      wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed northward. It is
      also called the northern node. --Herschel.

   Ascending series. (Math.)
   (a) A series arranged according to the ascending powers of a
       quantity.
   (b) A series in which each term is greater than the
       preceding.

   Ascending signs, signs east of the meridian.
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