ELEVATION
, the height or altitude of any thing.
Elevation, in Architecture, denotes a draught or description of the principal face or side of a building; called also its upright or orthography.
Elevation, in Astronomy and Geography, is various; as Elevation of the equator, of the pole, of a star, &c.
Elevation of the Equator, is the height of the equator above the horizon; or an arc of the meridian intercepted between the equator and the horizon of the place.—The Elevation of the equator and of the pole together always make up a quadrant; the one being the complement of the other. Therefore, the Elevation of the pole being found, and subtracted from 90°, leaves the elevation of the equator.
Elevation of the Pole, is its height above the | horizon; or an arc of the meridian comprehended between the equator and the horizon of the place.
The elevation of the pole is always equal to the latitude of the place; that is, the arc of the meridian intercepted between the pole and the horizon, is every where equal to the are of the same meridian intercepted between the equator and the zenith. Thus the north pole is elevated 51° 31′ above the horizon of London; and the distance, or number of degrees, is the same between London and the equator; so that London is also in 51° 31′ of north latitude.
Elevation of a Star, or of any other point in the sphere, is the angular height above the horizon; or an are of the vertical circle intercepted between the star and the horizon. The meridian altitude of any such point, or its altitude when in the meridian, is the greatest of all.
Elevation of a Cannon, or Mortar, is the angle which the bore or the axis of the piece makes with the horizontal plane.
Angle of Elevation, is the angle which any line of direction makes above a horizontal line.
Elevation is also used by some writers on Perspective, for the scenography, or perspective representation of the whole body or building.
