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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.
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Arraying with reflected purple and gold
The clouds that on his western throne attend. --
Milton.
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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.
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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.
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Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of
fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet. --Ex.
xxvi. 1.
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3. Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or
favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station;
great wealth. "He was born in the purple." --Gibbon.
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4. A cardinalate. See {Cardinal}.
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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}.
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6. (Zool.) Any shell of the genus {Purpura}.
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7. pl.(Med.) See {Purpura}.
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8. pl. A disease of wheat. Same as {Earcockle}.
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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.
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{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.
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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.
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2. Imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been
an emblem of imperial authority.
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Hide in the dust thy purple pride. --Shelley.
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3. Blood-red; bloody.
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May such purple tears be alway shed. --Shak.
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I view a field of blood,
And Tiber rolling with a purple blood. --Dryden.
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{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}.
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Purple \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.
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When morn
Purples the east. --Milton.
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Reclining soft in blissful bowers,
Purpled sweet with springing flowers. -- Fenton.
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