labarum

American  

[lab-er-uhm] / ˈlæb ər əm /

noun

labara plural

1. an ecclesiastical standard or banner, as for carrying in procession.

2. the military standard of Constantine the Great and later Christian emperors of Rome, bearing Christian symbols.

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labarum British  

/ ˈlæbərəm /

noun

1. a standard or banner carried in Christian religious processions

2. the military standard bearing a Christian monogram used by Constantine the Great

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• labara
  plural

Etymology

Origin of labarum

From Late Latin, dating back to 1650–60, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

The labarum of the emperors was similar in form, and frequently bore upon it a representation of the emperor, sometimes by himself and sometimes accompanied by the heads of members of his family.

From Flags: Some Account of their History and Uses. by Macgeorge, Andrew

The labarum, which was the imperial standard of later emperors, resembled in shape and fixing the vexillum.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 4 "Finland" to "Fleury, Andre" by Various

The Latin cross is marked on the sacramental bread of the Greek communion,—which bread is also impressed with an abbreviation of the words on Constantine's labarum: "Jesus Christ overcometh."

From Notes and Queries, Number 184, May 7, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Bell, George

Several coins with the legend Gloria Exercitus have upon the same side two soldiers with a labarum or military standard between them, upon the banner of which is the symbol  .

From The Non-Christian Cross An Enquiry into the Origin and History of the Symbol Eventually Adopted as That of Our Religion by Parsons, John Denham

Constantine made the labarum the battle-flag of Rome.

From Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 09 Little Journeys to the Homes of Great Reformers by Hubbard, Elbert