LATERAN

lateran. Lateran, n. one of the Pope's palaces at Rome

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Lat″er‐an (?), n. The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the church being the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of all churches in the Catholic world. ☞ The name is said to have been derived from that of the Laterani family, who possessed a palace on or near the spot where the church now stands. In this church several ecclesiastical councils, hence called Lateran councils, have been held.