Latin
Definition
Latin refers to the classical language of ancient Rome. It was widely spoken and used as a written language in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Analogy
Think of Latin as the "grandparent" language of many modern European languages. Just like how grandparents pass down their knowledge and traditions to future generations, Latin served as the foundation for many European languages that developed later on.
Related terms
Romance Languages: These are modern languages derived from Latin, such as Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Romanian.
Vulgar Latin: This was the everyday form of Latin spoken by common people during the Middle Ages.
Ecclesiastical Latin: It is a version of Latin used by the Roman Catholic Church for religious purposes.
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