Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive & intransitive verb To make or become purple.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To tinge or color with purple:

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To tinge or dye of a purple color; to color with purple; to impurple.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To make purple.
  • verb To enrage or anger, referring to making the face purple or red with blood.
  • verb Of writing, to make overly flowery or showy; to embellish unduly.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb color purple

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

em- +‎ purple

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Examples

  • “If such a warning as could be given by the voice of sisterly affection can have weight in the debate,” said Catharine, “do think that, in striking, you empurple this hand, that in receiving wounds you harm this heart.”

    The Fair Maid of Perth 2008

  • At a certain station, I am reminded by my careful mentor, the craggy mountain-tops were softened by the sunset pink, and that then the warm afternoon air began to grow cooler, and the dying day to empurple the uplands everywhere, without abating the charm of the blithe cottages.

    Familiar Spanish Travels 2004

  • He waited for Muktar's neck to swell with anger and his face empurple, then went on.

    Conan The Unconquered Jordan, Robert, 1948- 1983

  • He waited for Muktar's neck to swell with anger and his face empurple, then went on.

    Conan The Unconquered Jordan, Robert, 1948- 1983

  • Thunder-clouds empurple the turf and blacken the hangers, but they cannot break the imperturbable equanimity of the line; rain throws over the range a gauze veil of added softness; a mist makes them more wonderful, unreal, romantic; snow brings them to one's doors.

    Highways & Byways in Sussex E.V. Lucas

  • In winter, pheasants crouch under the brushwood or splutter through the trees; in summer the rhododendrons scent and empurple the woodland rides.

    Highways and Byways in Surrey Eric Parker 1912

  • At a certain station, I am reminded by my careful mentor, the craggy mountain-tops were softened by the sunset pink, and that then the warm afternoon air began to grow cooler, and the dying day to empurple the uplands everywhere, without abating the charm of the blithe cottages.

    Familiar Spanish Travels William Dean Howells 1878

  • In the common pretty Purple-fringed Orchid, whose dense cylindrical spikes of plumy blossoms occasionally empurple whole marshes, we have an arrangement quite similar to the _H. orbicularis_ just described, with the exception that the pollen-pouches are almost parallel, and not noticeably spread at the base (Fig. 11).

    My Studio Neighbors William Hamilton Gibson 1873

  • Terence, however rash he was by nature, allowed himself to be overruled by his more prudent companions; and therefore, up to the hour when the twilight began to empurple the sea, no movement towards stirring from their place of concealment was made by any of the party.

    The Boy Slaves Mayne Reid 1850

  • Magnificent weather, one of those sun risings that empurple landscapes, left the river all its limpid serenity.

    The Vicomte de Bragelonne Or Ten Years Later being the completion of "The Three Musketeers" And "Twenty Years After" Alexandre Dumas p��re 1836

Comments

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  • I like this word! When very old Kodak film is developed, the pictures are all purplish--a phenomenon I saw demonstrated this week. Our 20 year old selves all all empurpled.

    August 9, 2007

  • You mean people have decades-old film just sitting around undeveloped?

    August 9, 2007

  • It happens. Old abandoned cameras, that sort of thing. :)

    August 9, 2007

  • Yes, I've had that happen too.

    August 9, 2007

  • I can see this being used in the following sense.

    The empurpled monarch marched toward the throne to receive his crown.

    August 10, 2007