Purples

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Arraying with reflected purple and gold
              The clouds that on his western throne attend. --
                                                    Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
           [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]
  
     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.
           [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]