Part 679

2. Imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been an emblem of imperial authority.

Hide in the dust thy purple pride.

Shelley.

3. Blood-red; bloody.

May such purple tears be alway shed.

Shak.

I view a field of blood, And Tiber rolling with a purple blood.

Dryden.

Purple bird (Zoˆl.), the European purple gallinule. See under Gallinule. -- Purple copper ore. (Min.) See Bornite. -- Purple grackle (Zoˆl.), the crow blackbird. See under Crow. -- Purple martin. See under Martin. -- Purple sandpiper. See under Sandpiper. -- Purple shell. See Ianthina.

Pur"ple (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purpled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Purpling.] To make purple; to dye of purple or deep red color; as, hands purpled with blood.

When morn Purples the east.

Milton.

Reclining soft in blissful bowers, Purpled sweet with springing flowers.

Fenton.

Pur"ple*heart` (?), n. (Bot.) A strong, durable, and elastic wood of a purplish color, obtained from several tropical American leguminous trees of the genus Copaifera (Copaifera pubiflora, Copaifera bracteata, and Copaifera officinalis). Used for decorative veneering. See Copaiba.

Pur"ple*wood` (?), n. Same as Purpleheart.

Pur"plish (?), a. Somewhat purple. Boyle.

Pur"port (?), n. [OF. purport; pur, pour, for (L. pro) + porter to bear, carry. See Port demeanor.]

1. Design or tendency; meaning; import; tenor.

The whole scope and purport of that dialogue. Norris. With a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell.

Shak.

2. Disguise; covering. [Obs.]

For she her sex under that strange purport Did use to hide.

Spenser.

Pur"port, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purported; p. pr. & vb. n. Purporting.] [OF. purporter, pourporter. See Purport, n.] To intend to show; to intend; to mean; to signify; to import; -- often with an object clause or infinitive.

They in most grave and solemn wise unfolded Matter which little purported.

Rowe.

Pur"port*less, a. Without purport or meaning.