Found 1 items, similar to Purple of Cassius.
English → English (gcide)
Definition: Purple of Cassius
Purple
\Pur"ple\, n.; pl.
Purples. [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF.
purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish,
purple dye, fr. Gr. ? the purple fish, a shell from the
purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. ? dark (said of the
sea), purple, ? to grow dark (said of the sea), to be
troubled; perh. akin to L. 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.
[1913 Webster]
Arraying with reflected purple and gold
The clouds that on his western throne attend. --
Milton.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of
fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet. --Ex.
xxvi. 1.
[1913 Webster]
3. Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or
favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station;
great wealth.
“He was born in the purple.” --Gibbon.
[1913 Webster]
4. A cardinalate. See
Cardinal.
[1913 Webster]
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 (
Basilarchia arthemis
). See Illust. under
Ursula.
[1913 Webster]
6. (Zo["o]l.) Any shell of the genus
Purpura.
[1913 Webster]
7. pl.(Med.) See
Purpura.
[1913 Webster]
8. pl. A disease of wheat. Same as
Earcockle.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
Cassius
\Cas"sius\, n. [From the name of the discoverer, A.
Cassius, a German physician of the 17th centry.]
A brownish purple pigment, obtained by the action of some
compounds of tin upon certain salts of gold. It is used in
painting and staining porcelain and glass to give a beautiful
purple color. Commonly called
Purple of Cassius.
[1913 Webster]