purple
- adjective
- /ˈpɜrpl/
- Each member of the imperial pair wears sumptuous purple imperial robes and a crown and is distinguished by a halo.
Their robes were pretty cheap, but nobility in Rome were purple and purple because it was so expensive.
- Their robes were pretty cheap, but nobility in Rome were purple and purple because it was so expensive.
Examples
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As for me, I agree with the adage that royal purple is the noblest shroud.
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And he set off on his walk, taking his big purple crown with him.
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The purple robe of royal office.
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Caesar sat on his gold throne in the middle of the Forum, wearing his purple gown.
Academic text (2014) -
The only concession to sumptuosity that he made was the purple lining of his cloak.
Fiction book (1993) -
Upon his return to Italy, Nero entered Rome in a purple robe spangled with golden stars, wearing his Olympic crown.
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Who wouldn't feel like royalty on Mamma's purple velvet lounging chaise with the gold cording?
Fiction book (1993) -
The king wore a magnificent purple robe during the coronation ceremony.
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In ancient Rome, only the emperor could wear the color purple to signify his supreme authority.
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The palace was adorned with purple drapes, symbolizing its regal status.
Synonyms
Relating to a king or queen and their family
Belonging to an empire or its ruler
Having great beauty and causing people to feel respect
Belonging to a rich, important family
Having a grand and formal appearance like a king or queen
Antonyms
Idioms
Compounds
- Formal
A military medal given to people in the United States military who are wounded or killed in action
A tall marsh plant with long purple flower spikes that crowd out native plants
- Specialized
A large North American swallow with shiny blue-black males and duller females
- Formal
A United States military medal that is given to service members wounded or killed in combat
A wild orchid with pink or purple flowers in a loose cluster that blooms in spring
- Specialized
A type of tree with shiny purple or copper-coloured leaves often grown in gardens
- Specialized
A North American flowering herb with leaves in rings and small purple spotted flowers
A California plant with white and pale purple flowers that grow in rings around the stem like a small tower
- Specialized
A plant with purple to pink flowers that farmers grow for animal food and to make soil better
- Specialized
A small plant that lives for several years with purple flowers that bloom in spring
- US
A small evergreen shrub with purple flowers that grows in wet places in the southeastern United States
A small fruit tree with purple twigs, white flowers, and purple fruit grown mainly for its looks
A plant that grows back every year with divided leaves and purple drooping flowers in northern regions
- Specialized
Small living things that use light to make energy, look pink or purple, and live where there is little oxygen
- Specialized
A bright purple-blue marsh bird with a red bill that lives in marshes
- Specialized
A small North American bird with males that have red heads and females with brown streaks
- Specialized
An orchid from North America with rosy purple flowers and finely toothed leaves
- Specialized
A small wild plant with rosy-purple flowers that grows in wet meadows in eastern North America
- Informal
A silly phrase people use to say something is confusing or absurd
A wild plant with silvery leaves, violet, blue or white flowers and round berries used to make milk into cheese
A round vegetable with purple skin and a mild, slightly sweet taste often eaten raw in salads or on burgers
A North American orchid with a long stem of purple and white flowers that form a hood
- US
A plant that grows in small clumps with purple, pink, or white flowers in the dry southwest United States
- Specialized
A plant with purple, pink, or white flowers that can poison farm animals
- Australian
An Australian shrub that keeps its leaves all year and has shiny green leaves and bright purple flowers
A small tropical bush or tree that produces deep red oval fruit you can eat
A long-lived plant with strong-smelling pink or purple flowers and a root used in traditional medicine to help childbirth
Hairy plant that lives many years with round lobed leaves and large purple or red flowers
A plant that lives for more than one year with small groups of yellow, red or purple flowers
A plant that lives for many years and has pink-purple flowers attracting butterflies
A North American orchid with clusters of purple fringed flowers that grows in wet meadows and marshes
- Specialized
A mushroom with a slimy purple cap and gills that turn dark purple when bruised
- Specialized
A wildflower with purple stems and clusters of violet or blue flowers
How Regal
Surface Forms
Etymology
Purple meaning 'regal' or fitting for a king comes from the precious dye purpura once used by emperors, so purple came to mean things that befit a ruler.