Standard Lemma guide

purpureal

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /pɜːˈpjʊə.ɹɪ.əl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /pɝˈp(j)ʊ.ɹi.əl/

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of a purple colour.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: literary, poetic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: purple, purpuraceous, purpurate, purpure, purpurean, purpureous, purpurine

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin purpureus (“purple, violet; brown, reddish; clothed in purple; (figurative) brilliant, shining; beautiful”) + English -al (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives). Purpureus is either derived: * from purpura (“the colour purple; purple-fish (Hexaplex trunculus)”) (from Ancient Greek πορφῠ́ρᾱ (porphŭ́rā, “purple-fish; purple dye obtained from it; purple-dyed cloth; purple stripe or other adornment of a garment”), from πορφύρω (porphúrō, “to redden”)) + -eus (suffix forming adjectives from nouns); or * from Ancient Greek πορφύρεος (porphúreos, “of a purple colour”), from πορφῠ́ρᾱ (porphŭ́rā) (see above) + -εος (-eos).

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: violâtre — (literary, poetic) of a purple colour — see also purple