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. (Zo["o]l.) 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. (Zo["o]l.) Any shell of the genus Purpura.
8. pl. 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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.