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Webster 1913 Edition


Labarum


Lab′a-rum

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Labara
(#)
.
[L.]
The standard adopted by the Emperor Constantine after his conversion to Christianity. It is described as a pike bearing a silk banner hanging from a crosspiece, and surmounted by a golden crown. It bore a monogram of the first two letters (ΧΡ) (which appear like the English letters X and P), of the name of Christ in its Greek form. Later, the name was given to various modifications of this standard.

Definition 2024


labarum

labarum

English

Noun

labarum (plural labara)

  1. The Roman military standard adopted by Constantine I. The banner was known for its Christian chi-rho sign - .
    • 1658: Nor shall we urge the labarum, and famous Standard of Constantine, or make further use thereof, than as the first Letters in the Name of our Saviour Christ — Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus (Folio Society 2007, p. 168)