I. ˈvīələ̇t sometimes ˈvīl-; usu -ə̇.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French violete, diminutive of viole violet, from Latin viola, of non-Indo-European origin; akin to the source of Greek ion violet
1.
a. : a plant of the genus Viola ; especially : one of the small-flowered forms as distinguished from the typically larger-flowered violas and pansies
b. : any of several plants (as a dogtooth violet) of genera other than Viola
2.
a. : any of a group of colors that resemble those of violets (sense 1) and are of reddish blue hue, low lightness, and medium saturation
b. : a reddish blue hue that is evoked in the normal observer under normal conditions by radiant energy of wavelength 420 millimicrons
3. : cloth or clothing of the color violet
4. : a pigment or dye that imparts a violet color
5. : any of numerous small violet-colored butterflies of the family Lycaenidae
6. : an overly fastidious, modest, or retiring person
a shrinking violet
a blushing violet
[s]violet.jpg[/s] [
violet 1a
]
II. transitive verb
( violetted ; violetted ; violetting ; violets )
: to make violet-hued
III. ˈvīəˌlet noun
( -s )
Etymology: Italian violetta — more at violette
: violette I ; specifically : viola d'amore