[vi.o.let] n [ME, fr. MF violete, dim. of viole violet, fr. L viola] (14c) 1 a: any of a genus (Viola of the family Violaceae, the violet family) of chiefly herbs with alternate stipulate leaves and showy flowers in spring and cleistogamous flowers in summer; esp: one with smaller usu. solid-colored flowers as distinguished from the usu. larger-flowered violas and pansies b: any of several plants of genera other than that of the violet--compare dogtooth violet
2: any of a group of colors of reddish blue hue, low lightness, and medium saturation