Ambrosian Library
Preserved but no longer current.
Library in Milan founded by Count Federigo Borromeo (1564- 1631), Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, in 1609; so called in compliment to St. Ambrose, the patron saint. It is famous for its collection of illuminated MSS., including the earliest known — a 4th-century codex of Homer. Ambrosia (am bro' zi a) (Gr. a, privative, brotos, mortal). The food of the gods, so called because it made them immortal.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Ambrosian Library” mean?
Library in Milan founded by Count Federigo Borromeo (1564- 1631), Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, in 1609; so called in compliment to St. Ambrose, the patron saint. It is famous for its collection of illuminated MSS., including the earliest known — a 4th-century codex of Homer. Ambrosia (am bro' zi a) (Gr. a, privative, brotos, mortal). The food of the gods, so called because it made them immortal.
Is “Ambrosian Library” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.