Alsatia
|Al-sa-ti-a|
/ælˈseɪʃə/
Alsace region; a refuge/lawless sanctuary
Etymology
'Alsatia' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'Alsatia', ultimately from Old French 'Alsace' and German 'Elsass' (Old High German 'Elsāz').
'Alsatia' entered English usage from Medieval Latin/Old French forms referring to the Alsace region; by the 17th century English writers also applied the name to the London liberty of Whitefriars, and the word acquired the secondary meaning of a sanctuary or lawless refuge.
Initially it meant 'the Alsace region'; over time English usage developed a secondary sense of 'a refuge or lawless sanctuary' (from the London enclave usage).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a historical or literary name for the region of Alsace (on the border of France and Germany).
Alsatia is known for its vineyards and timbered towns.
Synonyms
Noun 2
(historical, chiefly British) A liberty in London (the area of Whitefriars) notorious in the 17th–18th centuries as a refuge for debtors, criminals, and fugitives; by extension, any lawless refuge or sanctuary.
In the 17th century Whitefriars was commonly called Alsatia, a refuge where the law was often evaded.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/09 08:01