I. ˈpərpəl, ˈpə̄p-ˈpəip- adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English purpel, purpil, alteration of purper, purpre, from Old English purpuran of purple, gen. of purpure purple color, from Latin purpura purple color, purple fish, from Greek porphyra
1.
a. archaic : of a color reserved for the use of a royal or imperial ruler
b. : of, belonging to, or worn by those of royal or imperial rank : imperial , regal
a purple tyrant
also : dressed in royal raiment or colors
2.
a. : of a color approaching crimson — presently used almost wholly in vernacular names of plants or animals; compare purple bells , purple finch
b. : of the color purple
c. archaic : colored or stained by or as if by blood
I view a field of blood and Tiber rolling with a purple flood — John Dryden
3.
a. : marked by brilliant coloring : showy
b.
(1) : highly rhetorical : ornately and showily phrased or expressed
a purple patch of writing
(2) : marked by undue pungency and profanity
his language … is so purple they had to stop broadcasting the meetings — Newsweek
c. : having the countenance overspread with tinting of purple resulting from or as if from ill-suppressed anger
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English purpil, from purpil, adjective
1.
a.
(1) archaic : any of various rich deep crimsons or scarlets ; specifically : the crimson obtained by dyeing textile fibers with a dye obtained from mollusks : tyrian purple 1
(2) : any of various colors that in hue fall about midway between red and blue ; also : the hue of such a color
(3) : a nonspectral color
b.
(1) : cloth dyed purple
(2) : a garment of such color ; especially : a purple robe worn as an emblem of rank or authority (as by a Roman emperor)
c.
(1) : a mollusk yielding a purple dye ; specifically : a gastropod mollusk of Purpura or a related genus (as Thais ) with an adrectal gland that yields the Tyrian purple of ancient times
(2) : a pigment or dye that colors purple
2.
a. : imperial or regal rank or power — compare porphyrogenite
b. : exalted station : great wealth
3. archaic : a purplish blotch or discoloration (as of the skin)
III. verb
( purpled ; purpled ; purpling -p(ə)liŋ ; purples )
Etymology: purple (I)
transitive verb
: to make purple : dye or tint with purple
the setting sun purpled the clouds
intransitive verb
: to become or turn purple
purpling with fury