What is the Latin word for lofty?

The usual Latin words for “lofty” are altus, efferō, excellō; also edō, sublīmis, ērigō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“lofty” in Latin

altusold, ancient, long gone; high-born, lofty, noble; high-minded, magnanimous, great efferōto bring, bear, carry, take out, forth, away; transport; to carry out (of the house) for burial, bear to the grave, bury excellōto elevate, raise up; to rise, elevate oneself; to exult, be elated edōto eat sublīmisuplifted, high, lofty, exalted, sublime; elevated, raised ērigōto raise up, elevate, lift; to lift, raise, boost; to build, erect AugustusAugustan (pertaining to the Emperor Augustus); imperial, royal; of August, the sixth month of the Roman calendar

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

lofty

altus, elatus, Cels., excelsus (PROP. and figuratively; SYN. in HIGH): editus (above the level; opposed to planus): sublimis (PROP. that soars on high, then = above the common order): erectus (of lofty ideas): augustus (high, especially of divine things): a lofty style, oratio grandis; orationis altitudo; elatio atque altitudo orationis; sublime genus dicendi: a man of lofty mind, vir excelsus et altus.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for lofty?: The usual Latin words for “lofty” are altus, efferō, excellō; also edō, sublīmis, ērigō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.