There are many words that end with the "tude" suffix - words connected with prefixes to form nouns and adjectives. These are words that denote state, condition and quality, but also quantity. Tude has its origin in Latin, "tudo" and French, "tude."

Apart from the mostly teenagers' slang usage of tude, shortened for "attitude," which dates from the 1970s and emphasizes an arrogant or hostile attitude or disposition, the term has a profound and significant meaning that relates to being and becoming. Below are twelve words with tude as their suffix which describe, and in a certain way define, the human condition and the ecological state of existence...beingness and nothingness.

In this word litany the last word discussed is gratitude, not because it is the least important term but rather because like the expression, "the last shall be first," which emphasizes the importance of the last, gratitude is primary and major. More than any other quality gratitude enables a person to live meaningfully, be healthy and have joy and peace. Now let us consider these terms.

Platitude - O dull and insipid person, spouting out stale remarks.

Decrepitude - Weakened by infirmities, maybe by old age, inpaired by wear, fallen into ruin, in a state of disrepair. Decrepit.

Longitude - The length or angular distance measured with a circle of reference. What goes around comes around, sooner or later.

Latitude- The breadth and width or angular distance from some specified circle or plane or reference such as the distance north or south from the earth's equator measured through 90 degees. The freedom of action or choice.

Altitude - The height or vertical elevation of an object above the horizon. Shoot for the stars.

Fortitude - The strength of mind and soul that enables and emboldens a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.

Rectitude - That state of being straight, righteous, having moral integrity, correct in judgment, discernment or procedure.

Magnitude - A spatial quality expressed in a quantitative measurement usually as a multiple of a standard unit.

Solitude - Being alone, withdrawn, in secluison, or living a queit life that usually does not involve other people; certainly not intimately.

Attitude - Having a feeling of emotion or a mental position with regard to a fact or state and very often in relationship to other people.

Vicissitude - The quality or state of being changeable, impermanence, as seen in natural change or mutation that is visible in nature or in human affairs.

Gratitude - Being grateful, that is, appreciative for the benefits received by oneself, others, and for the Cosmos and the Creator of all things, great and small.

To reiterate, in this list containing words that end with tude as suffix, gratitude is mentioned last, not because it is least of these words but to the contrary, because it is the most important quality for achieving potential living. For the person who is spiritually rooted gratitude is the first word or thought he/she expreses upon rising from sleep and the last word or thought he/she expresses before going to sleep.The grateful person also expresses gratitude during his/her waking hours. Even while asleep his/her breathing - inhaling and exahaling - is breaths of thanksgiving.

There is no better way to let go of memories of the past and anticipations of the future and live in the present than to posses, not only an attitude of gratitude, but to possess and be possessed by gratitude...to be the embodiment of gratitude. Let the grateful person say, "Gratitude is who I am!" Be thankful!

Copyright 2009 by Uriah J. Fields