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purplesmore about purples

purples

 

  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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.




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