Noun

(en noun)

One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= Old soldiers? , passage=Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine. The machine gun is so much more lethal than the bow and arrow that comparisons are meaningless.}}

An earlier type; a progenitor

(legal) One from whom an estate has descended;—the correlative of heir.

(figuratively) One who had the same role or function in former times.

* {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 1, author=Saj Chowdhury, work=BBC Sport

, title= Wolverhampton 1-2 Newcastle , passage=The Magpies are unbeaten and enjoying their best run since 1994, although few would have thought the class of 2011 would come close to emulating their ancestors .}}

Noun

(en noun)

The absolute height of a location, usually measured from sea level.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=David Simpson

, volume=188, issue=26, page=36, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Fantasy of navigation , passage=Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes , there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.}}

A vertical distance.

(geometry) The distance measured perpendicularly from a figure's vertex to the opposite side of the vertex.

(astronomy) The angular distance of a heavenly body above our Earth's horizon.

Height of rank or excellence; superiority.

(Jonathan Swift)

(dated, in the plural) Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs.

* Sir Walter Scott

The man of law began to get into his altitudes .

(Richardson)

Highest point or degree.

* Shakespeare

He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue.