▪ I. albe
variant of alb.
▪ II. albe
[Anglicized form of album, in sense 1.]
Rom. Antiq. A tablet on which anything is inscribed; a register.
| 1697 Potter Antiq. Greece (1715) i. xxvi. 165 If any Debtor shall be blotted out of the Albe, or Register. 1807 Robinson Archæol. Gr. i. xxx. 114 If any debtor should be blotted out of the albe, or register, before he had discharged his debt. |
▪ III. † alˈbe, conj. Obs. or arch.
Also al be, allbe, all be.
[prop. a phrase all be, contr. for all be it, = although it be (that): see all adv. and albeit.]
Although it be that; although.
1. = albeit 1.
| c 1386 Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 97 Al be that I kan nat sowne his stile [v.r. al be it]. 1493 Petronylla (Pynson) 79 Albe that he excellyd in richesse He besy was to haue hir in mariage. |
2. = albeit 2.
| c 1400 Purific. (Turnb. 1843) 128 Thou mekely com thyn offurryng in thyn hond All be the law sett on the no bond. a 1586 Sidney in Farr S.P. I. 68 Allbe thousands here, Ten thousands there decay. 1603 B. Jonson Sejanus iv. v, Ay, but his fear Would ne'er be mask'd, allbe his vices were. 1825 Southey Paraguay iv. xix. Wks. VII. 83 And in their hearts, albe the work was rude, It raised the thought of all-commanding might. |
3. = albeit 3.
| 1596 Spenser To Beautie 149 Oft it falles..That goodly Beautie, albe heavenly borne, Is foule abused. |