| Purple | n.; pl. Purples [ OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. &unr_; the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. &unr_; dark (said of the sea), purple, &unr_; 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Arraying with reflected purple and gold
The clouds that on his western throne attend. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet. Ex. xxvi. 1. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station; great wealth. “He was born in the purple.” Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. A cardinalate. See Cardinal. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Zool.) Any species of large butterflies, usually marked with purple or blue, of the genus Basilarchia (formerly Limenitis) as, the banded purple (Basilarchia arthemis). See Illust. under Ursula. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. (Zool.) Any shell of the genus Purpura. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. pl.(Med.) See Purpura. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. pl. A disease of wheat. Same as Earcockle. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
French purple. (Chem.) Same as Cudbear. --
Purple of Cassius. See Cassius. --
Purple of mollusca (Zool.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Purple | 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been an emblem of imperial authority. [ 1913 Webster ] Hide in the dust thy purple pride. Shelley. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Blood-red; bloody. [ 1913 Webster ] May such purple tears be alway shed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] I view a field of blood,
And Tiber rolling with a purple blood. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
Purple bird (Zool.), the European purple gallinule. See under Gallinule. --
Purple copper ore. (Min.) See Bornite. --
Purple grackle (Zool.), the crow blackbird. See under Crow. --
Purple martin. See under Martin. --
Purple sandpiper. See under Sandpiper. --
Purple shell. See Ianthina. [ 1913 Webster ]
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