PURPLEST
Adjective
purplest
superlative form of purple: most purple
Anagrams
• Stuppler
Source: Wiktionary
PURPLE
Pur"ple, n.; pl. Purples. Etym: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre,
porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr.
Gr. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]
1. A color formed by, or resembling that formed by, a combination of
the primary colors red and blue.
Arraying with reflected purple and gold The clouds that on his
western throne attend. Milton.
Note: The ancient words which are translated purple are supposed to
have been used for the color we call crimson. In the gradations of
color as defined in art, purple is a mixture of red and blue. When
red predominates it is called violet, and when blue predominates,
hyacinth.
2. Cloth dyed a purple color, or a garment of such color; especially,
a purple robe, worn as an emblem of rank or authority; specifically,
the purple rode or mantle worn by Roman emperors as the emblem of
imperial dignity; as, to put on the imperial purple.
Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined
linen, and purple, and scarlet. Ex. xxvi. 1.
3. Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or favor;
loosely and colloquially, any exalted station; great wealth. "He was
born in the purple." Gibbon.
4. A cardinalate. See Cardinal.
5. (Zoƶl.)
Definition: Any species of large butterflies, usually marked with purple or
blue, of the genus Basilarchia (formerly Limenitis) as, the banded
purple (B. arthemis). See Illust. under Ursula.
6. (Zoƶl.)
Definition: Any shell of the genus Purpura.
7. pl.(Med.)
Definition: See Purpura.
8. pl.
Definition: A disease of wheat. Same as Earcockle.
Note: Purple is sometimes used in composition, esp. with participles
forming words of obvious signification; as, purple-colored, purple-
hued, purple-stained, purple-tinged, purple-tinted, and the like.
French purple. (Chem.) Same as Cudbear.
– Purple of Cassius. See Cassius.
– Purple of mollusca (Zoƶl.), a coloring matter derived from
certain mollusks, which dyes wool, etc., of a purple or crimson
color, and is supposed to be the substance of the famous Tyrian dye.
It is obtained from Ianthina, and from several species of Purpura,
and Murex.
– To be born in the purple, to be of princely birth; to be
highborn.
Pur"ple, a.
1. Exhibiting or possessing the color called purple, much esteemed
for its richness and beauty; of a deep red, or red and blue color;
as, a purple robe.
2. Imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been an emblem
of imperial authority.
Hide in the dust thy purple pride. Shelley.
3. Blood-red; bloody.
May such purple tears be alway shed. Shak.
I view a field of blood, And Tiber rolling with a purple blood.
Dryden.
Purple bird (Zoƶl.), the European purple gallinule. See under
Gallinule.
– Purple copper ore. (Min.) See Bornite.
– Purple grackle (Zoƶl.), the crow blackbird. See under Crow.
– Purple martin. See under Martin.
– Purple sandpiper. See under Sandpiper.
– Purple shell. See Ianthina.
Pur"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purpled; p. pr. & vb. n. Purpling.]
Definition: To make purple; to dye of purple or deep red color; as, hands
purpled with blood.
When morn Purples the east. Milton.
Reclining soft in blissful bowers, Purpled sweet with springing
flowers. Fenton.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition