Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Purple?

\Pur"ple\, n.; pl. {Purples}. [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. ? the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. ? dark (said of the sea), purple, ? to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. {Porphyry}, {Purpure}.] 1. A color formed by, or resembling that formed by, a combination of the primary colors red and blue. Arraying with reflected purple and gold The clouds that on his western throne attend. -- Milton. Note: The ancient words which are translated purple are supposed to have been used for the color we call crimson. In the gradations of color as defined in art, purple is a mixture of red and blue. When red predominates it is called violet, and when blue predominates, hyacinth. 2. Cloth dyed a purple color, or a garment of such color; especially, a purple robe, worn as an emblem of rank or authority; specifically, the purple rode or mantle worn by Roman emperors as the emblem of imperial dignity; as, to put on the imperial purple. Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet. --Ex. xxvi. 1. 3. Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station; great wealth. ``He was born in the purple.'' --Gibbon. 4. A cardinalate. See {Cardinal}. 5. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of large butterflies, usually marked with purple or blue, of the genus {Basilarchia} (formerly {Limenitis}) as, the banded purple ({B. arthemis}). See Illust. under {Ursula}. 6. (Zo["o]l.) Any shell of the genus Purpura. 7. pl.(Med.) See {Purpura}. 8. pl. A disease of wheat. Same as {Earcockle}. Note: Purple is sometimes used in composition, esp. with participles forming words of obvious signification; as, purple-colored, purple-hued, purple-stained, purple-tinged, purple-tinted, and the like. {French purple}. (Chem.) Same as {Cudbear}. {Purple of Cassius}. See {Cassius}. {Purple of mollusca} (Zo["o]l.), a coloring matter derived from certain mollusks, which dyes wool, etc., of a purple or crimson color, and is supposed to be the substance of the famous Tyrian dye. It is obtained from Ianthina, and from several species of Purpura, and Murex. {To be born in the purple}, to be of princely birth; to be highborn.
\Pur"ple\, a. 1. Exhibiting or possessing the color called purple, much esteemed for its richness and beauty; of a deep red, or red and blue color; as, a purple robe. 2. Imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been an emblem of imperial authority. Hide in the dust thy purple pride. --Shelley. 3. Blood-red; bloody. May such purple tears be alway shed. --Shak. I view a field of blood, And Tiber rolling with a purple blood. --Dryden. {Purple bird} (Zo["o]l.), the European purple gallinule. See under {Gallinule}. {Purple copper ore}. (Min.) See {Bornite}. {Purple grackle} (Zo["o]l.), the crow blackbird. See under {Crow}. {Purple martin}. See under {Martin}. {Purple sandpiper}. See under {Sandpiper}. {Purple shell}. See {Ianthina}.
\Pur"ple\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Purpled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Purpling}.] To make purple; to dye of purple or deep red color; as, hands purpled with blood. When morn Purples the east. --Milton. Reclining soft in blissful bowers, Purpled sweet with springing flowers. -- Fenton.