Etymologically
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alba

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 23 October 2026 at 10:32. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈaɫ.ba][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈal.ba][1]

Forms

alba f (genitive albae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin albus (“white”), its feminine used as a noun, with a word for a tunic or garment understood.[2][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first author is Tertullian, who uses it of a white robe.[4][5][6]

Semantic evolution

In the Vulgate's Gospel of John two angels sit in albīs, in white garments.[4] In the Historia Augusta, Lampridius uses it of a white pearl.[7][8][4]

In Church Latin it became the alb, the white linen vestment of the clergy at Mass.[9][10] In the plural albae were the white robes of the newly baptised, and so the week after Easter, when they wore them.[9][3] Catalan church inventories list it among the vestments from the 9th century on,[11] and British sources also use it, perhaps, for an altar hanging.[3] Medieval Latin also used it for the dawn, the sense of Italian alba.[1]

English alb goes back to late Old English, from the vestment.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it of a white robe.[4][5][6]
  • 390–406 AD – The Vulgate has angels in albīs.[4][6]
  • 888 – A Catalan document lists an alb among the vestments of a church.[11]
  • late Old English – English alb is formed from it.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Late Latin) A white robe, white garment.[4][8][5]
  2. (Late Latin) A white pearl.[7][8][4]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) An alb, the white linen vestment of the clergy.[9][10][12]
  4. (Medieval Latin, plural) The white robes of the newly baptised; the week after Easter.[9][3]
  5. (Medieval Latin) Dawn.[1]
  • English alb

Usage notes

The capitalised Alba is a separate name: several towns, above all Alba Longa in Latium, the mother city of Rome, and Alba Fucens.[13][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  5. ^ a b c VoLat: Vocabolario della Lingua Latina (2018), Milan: Hoepli
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  9. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  10. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  11. ^ a b Glossarium Mediae Latinitatis Cataloniae (1960–; online ed. 2025), Barcelona: CSIC / Institució Milà i Fontanals, gmlc.imf.csic.es
  12. ^ Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  13. ^ Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press