labarum

American  

[lab-er-uhm] / ˈlæb ər əm /

noun

plural

labara

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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Etymology

Origin of labarum

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

Example Sentences

The labarum, like the vexillum, had sometimes fringes with tassels or ribbons.

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

Aug., and on the reverse, surrounded by the legend Spes Publica, a labarum or military standard the handle or base of which transfixes a serpent.

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

Then afterwards he said, "Excita in calcaneo qualitatem congregantem heterogenea;" the possessed said she felt her heel cold; after which, "Repræsenta nobis labarum Venetorum;" he made the figure of the cross.

From The Phantom World or, The philosophy of spirits, apparitions, &c, &c. by Christmas, Henry

The original form was some fixed object such as we have seen on the Egyptian and Roman examples, and the vexillum and labarum were transitional forms.

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

One end has two standing figures with a Latin cross in high relief between them, and a garland with waving ribands surrounding the labarum above; the other an imbrication with the spaces in relief.

From The Shores of the Adriatic The Austrian Side, The Küstenlande, Istria, and Dalmatia by Jackson, F. Hamilton (Frederick Hamilton)