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purple - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'purple' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Purple [ a.]
- 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.
- Imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been an emblem of imperial authority.
- Blood-red; bloody.
2 . Purple [ n.]
- A color formed by, or resembling that formed by, a combination of the primary colors red and blue.
- 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.
- Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station; great wealth.
- A cardinalate. See Cardinal.
- 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.
- Any shell of the genus Purpura.
- See Purpura.
- A disease of wheat. Same as Earcockle.
3 . Purple [ v. t.]
- To make purple; to dye of purple or deep red color; as, hands purpled with blood.

Meaning of 'purple' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . purple [ n]
Meaning (1):
- (in ancient Rome) position of imperial status
Example in sentence:
  • he was born to the purple
2 . purple [ s]
Meaning (2):
- excessively elaborate or showily expressed
Example in sentence:
  • a writer of empurpled literature;
  • an over-embellished story of the fish that got away;
  • many purple passages
Meaning (3):
- belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
Example in sentence:
  • golden age of imperial splendor;
  • purple tyrant;
  • regal attire;
  • the royal carriage of a stag's head;
  • treated with royal acclaim

Nearby Words:

pur purana puranic purbeck beds purbeck stone purblind purcelane purchasable purchase purchased

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