Latins

Noun

Latin (plural Latins)

1. (historical) A person native to ancient Rome or its Empire.
   • This appears incontestably from the manner in which the Latins wrote Greek words and names[…]1833, Philipp Buttmann, translated by Edward Robinson, A Greek grammar for the use of high schools and universities, page 23

   Synonyms:

   Roman

2. (historical) A member of an Italic tribe that included the early inhabitants of the city of Rome, and from about 1000 BCE inhabited the region known as Old Latium.

   Synonyms:

   Latial, Latian

3. A person from one of the modern European countries (including Italy, Spain etc.) whose language is descended from Latin.
   • No; the test of the contrast between modern Latins and modern Teutons is exactly like the test of the contrast between modern Latins and ancient Latins.1933, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, 'All I Survey': a book of essays, page 148
4. A person from Latin America.
   • In the use of patent medicine the average Latin resembles the American of fifty years ago, who generally had a bottle of some concoction on which he depended whenever he felt out of sorts.1922, William Edmund Aughinbaugh, Advertising for trade in Latin-America, page 150

   Synonyms:

   Latin American, Latino

5. A person adhering to Roman Catholic practice.
   • The modern Latins have been in the habit of blaming the Greek and other Eastern Liturgies for not consecrating by the recital of OUR SAVIOUR'S words of Institution[…]1853, William Palmer, Dissertations on Subjects Relating to the "Orthodox" or "Eastern-Catholic" Communion, page 118

   Synonyms:

   Catholic, Roman, Roman Catholic

See all 16 meanings of Latin