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.
&fist; 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.) 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.) Any shell of the genus
Purpura.
7. pl.(Med.) See
Purpura.
8. pl. A disease of wheat. Same as
Earcockle.
&fist; 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.
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.
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.
