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purpŭra , ae, f. πορφύρα.
I. Lit., the purple-fish (cf.: “bucinum, murex, ostrum),Plin. 9, 36, 60, § 125 sq.
II. Transf., purple color, purple, Plin. 9, 37, 61, § 130: “violae sublucet purpura nigrae,Verg. G. 4, 274: “certantem uvam purpurae,Hor. Epod. 2, 20; Dig. 32, 68 fin.; also, a spurious purple color, prepared from berries (cf. Plin. 9, 41, 65, § 140), Plin. 16, 18, 31, § 77.—Like aurum, gemmae, etc., to designate any valuable object, Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 128; Lucr. 5, 1423; Hor. C. 2, 16, 7: “purpuram marinam,Vulg. 1 Macc. 4, 23.—
B. The purple, i. e. purple cloth, a purple garment: “purpura plebeia ac paene fusca,Cic. Sest. 8, 19: usque ad talos demissa purpura, i. e. the praetexta, id. Clu. 40, 111; Quint. 1, 2, 6: “lectus eburneus, auro ac purpurā stratus,Suet. Caes. 84.—Esp., of the purple garments worn by kings and magistrates: “purpura Pompeium summi velabit honoris,Ov. P. 4, 4, 25: “regum,Verg. G. 2, 495.—Cf. in plur.: “purpurae Laconicae,Hor. C. 2, 18, 8; Quint. 8, 5, 28.—Hence,
2. Transf., a lofty station, high dignity: “omnis Latio quae servit purpura ferro,” i. e. all kings, Luc. 7, 228: “purpuram sumere,” i. e. the sovereignty, Eutr. 9, 8; Capitol. Max. 14: “adorare purpuram,” i. e. the emperor, Amm. 21, 9, 8; Cod. Th. 6, 24, 3; Cod. Just. 2, 8, 6; 12: “septima purpura,the seventh consulate, Flor. 3, 21, 17: “tertia Latios renovārat purpura fasces,Sil. 11, 112: “jamque novi praeëunt fasces, nova purpura fulget,Ov. F. 1, 81.—
3. Of wine: “purpura potabilis,Cassiod. Var. 12, 4.
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hide References (14 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (14):
    • Cicero, For Aulus Cluentius, 40.111
    • Cicero, For Sestius, 8.19
    • Vergil, Georgics, 4.274
    • Vergil, Georgics, 2.495
    • Old Testament, 1 Maccabees, 4.23
    • Suetonius, Divus Julius, 84
    • Plautus, Mostellaria, 1.3
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 5.1423
    • Lucan, Civil War, 7.228
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 16.77
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 1, 2.6
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 8, 5.28
    • Ovid, Ex Ponto, 4.4
    • Ovid, Fasti, 1
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