the purple
- noun
:
el púrpura
- Many admired the rich hue and intricate embroidery of the purple worn by the cardinal.
Examples
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After his appointment, the archbishop was vested in the purple during the grand ceremony.
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Receiving the purple is considered one of the highest honors within the Church hierarchy.
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Cardinals wear the purple during special ceremonies.
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Did you see the purple worn by Cardinal O'Malley?
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After his appointment, the archbishop was vested in the purple during the grand ceremony.
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Many admired the rich hue and intricate embroidery of the purple worn by the cardinal.
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Receiving the purple is considered one of the highest honors within the Church hierarchy.
Synonyms
1
9.7
The red robe worn by a Catholic cardinal as official dress
Church leaders wear a long loose piece of clothing for church services
Surface Forms
Morphology
the + purple
The phrase uses a metonymic extension of 'purple' (a colour associated with rank) so there is a partial link between the constituent 'purple' and the meaning 'official dress/office'. However, the specific sense referring to a cardinal's official dress or the office of rank depends on cultural/conventional knowledge and is not fully predictable from the words alone, so a B1 learner who only knows the literal words may not derive the intended meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
The purple also refers to the rich purple robe worn by a cardinal, a clear sign of high rank in the Church. So, being given the purple means 'becoming a cardinal' or receiving that official dress.