n.1 any plant of the genus Amaranthus, usu. having small green, red, or purple tinted flowers, e.g. prince's feather and pigweed.
2 an imaginary flower that never fades.
3 a purple colour.
Derivatives:
amaranthine adj.
Etymology: F amarante or mod.L amaranthus f. L f. Gk amarantos everlasting f. a- not + maraino wither, alt. after polyanthus etc.