Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Ultramontane?

\Ul`tra*mon"tane\, [LL. ultramontanus; L. ultra beyond + montanus belonging to a mountain, from mons, montis, mountain: cf. F. ultramontain, It. ultramontano. See {Ultra-}, and {Mountain}.] Being beyond the mountains; specifically, being beyond the Alps, in respect to the one who speaks. Note: This term was first applied, somewhat contemptuously, by the Italians, to the nations north of the Alps, especially the Germans and French, their painters, jurists, etc. At a later period, the French and Germans applied it to the Italians. It is now more particularly used in respect to religious matters; and ultramontane doctrines, when spoken of north of the Alps, denote the extreme views of the pope's rights and supremacy maintained by Bellarmin and other Italian writers.
\Ul`tra*mon"tane\, n. 1. One who resides beyond the mountains, especially beyond the Alps; a foreigner. 2. One who maintains extreme views favoring the pope's supremacy. See {Ultramontanism}.