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. amaranthine adj.
[ F amarante or mod.L amaranthus f. L f. Gk amarantos everlasting f. a- not + maraino wither, alt. after polyanthus etc. ]