ɪmˈpɪ.ɹi.əl məˈdʒɛstɪk ˈpɜː(ɹ).pəl ˈpɝpəl ˈpɜː(ɹ).pəl ˈpɝpəl ˈpɜː(ɹ).pəl ˈpɝpəl ˈɹɔɪəl ˈvaɪələt color purple become purple of a color intermediate between red and blue belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler golden age of imperial splendor purple tyrant regal attire treated with royal acclaim the royal carriage of a stag's head excessively elaborate or showily expressed a writer of empurpled literature many purple passages an over-embellished story of the fish that got away (Roman Catholic Church) official dress of a cardinal; so named after the Tyrial purple color of the robes a color between red and blue (in ancient Rome) position of imperial status he was born to the purple