The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.
Ultramontane \Ul`tra*mon"tane\, n.
One who resides beyond the mountains, especially beyond the Alps; a foreigner.
One who maintains extreme views favoring the pope's supremacy. See Ultramontanism.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1590s, from Middle French ultramontain "beyond the mountains" (especially the Alps), from Old French (early 14c.), from Latin ultra "beyond" (see ultra-) + stem of mons (see mount (n.)). Used especially of papal authority, though "connotation varies according to the position of the speaker or writer." [Weekley]
Wiktionary
a. 1 (context theology English) respecting the supremacy of the Pope. 2 From the other side of a mountain range, particularly the Alps. n. Someone who acknowledges the supremacy of the Pope
WordNet
adj. of or relating to ultramonatism
on or relating to or characteristic of the region or peoples beyond the Alps from Italy (or north of the Alps); "ancient transalpine Gaul was an area northwest of the Alps and included modern France and Belgium"; "Cracow was a transalpine university" [syn: transalpine]
on the Italian or Roman side of the Alps; "ancient cisalpine Gaul included an area south and east of the Alps" [syn: cisalpine]
n. a Roman Catholic who advocates ultramontanism (supreme papal authority in matters of faith and discipline)
Usage examples of "ultramontane".
Unlimited Imperialism is the task of this State, not the Crusading Imperialism which vanished with feudalism, nor the Ultramontane Imperialism of Spain in its glory, nor the economic Imperialism of England, 1600-1900, but a new, total, political, organizatory, authoritarian Imperialism, which will plant the Western banner on the highest peaks and the most remote peninsulas.
This measure Ledru Rollin and some of his colleagues justified on the ground that there were already parties whose reactionary efforts might be successful in returning Orleanist, Buonapartist, or ultramontane representatives, who might form a majority in the assembly, or, at all events, a minority large enough to embarrass the republic.
In a capital that would not have been considered a large sum, but in a commercial and industrial city like Lyons it raised the alarm amongst the merchants, and the Ultramontanes thought of taking their leave.
Catholics of the old Catholic families are less ultramontane and more ordinarily patriotic than the converted intellectuals (Ronald Knox, Arnold Lunn, etc.