Category:Purple

Pur"ple, n.; pl. Purples. Etym: [oe. purpre, pourpre, of. purpre, Porpre, pourpre, f. pourpre, l. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. 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. (zoöl.)

Defn: 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. (zoöl.)

Defn: any shell of the genus purpura.

7. pl.(Med.)

Defn: see purpura.

8. pl.

Defn: 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 (zoöl.), 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.

Purple 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 (zoöl.), the european purple gallinule. See under Gallinule. -- purple copper ore. (min.) See bornite. -- purple grackle (zoöl.), the crow blackbird. See under crow. -- purple martin. See under martin. -- purple sandpiper. See under sandpiper. -- purple shell. See ianthina.

Purple Pur"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purpled; p. pr. & vb. n. Purpling.]

Defn: 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.