Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.to be white (rare and orig. poet., esp. often in Ovid; but also in post-Aug. prose): campi ossibus, * Verg. A. 12, 36: “caput canis capillis,” Ov. H. 13, 161.—Esp. in the part. pres.: albens, white: “albentes rosae,” Ov. A. A. 3, 182: “spumae,” id. M. 15, 519: “vitta,” id. ib. 5, 110 al.; in prose: equi, * Plin. Pan. 22; “in Tac. several times: ossa, A. 1, 61: spumae,” id. ib. 6, 37: “in pallorem membra,” id. ib. 15, 64.—The poet. expression, albente caelo, at daybreak, at the dawn, was used (acc. to Caecilius in Quint. 8, 3, 35) in prose first by the hist. Sisenna (about 30 years before Cæs.), and after him by Cæs. and the author of the Bell. Afric.; * Caes. B. C. 1, 68; Auct. Bell. Afric. 11; ib. 80; cf. albesco.