amaranthine

amaranthine

English

Alternative forms

• amarantine

Etymology

1660s, coined by Milton, originally in sense "unfading", as amaranth +‎ -ine, from Ancient Greek ἀμάραντος (amárantos, “unfading”). Later used for color.[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌæm.əˈræn.θɪn/, /-θaɪn/

Noun

amaranthine (countable and uncountable, plural amaranthines)

1. A dark reddish-purple colour.

   amaranthine:  

2. The amaranth flower.
   • 1857, Eleanor Duckworth, Milly Wentworth, Poems and Sketches (page 65)

     Ah! when the eternal morning dawns,
     And amaranthines shall displace the thorns […]

Adjective

amaranthine (comparative more amaranthine, superlative most amaranthine)

1. Of a dark reddish purple colour.
2. Unfading, eternal, immortal, infinite.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], OCLC 228722708; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554:

     […] The angelick blast
     Filled all the regions: from their blisful bowers
     Of amarantine shade, fountain or spring,
     By the waters of life, where’er they sat
     In fellowships of joy, the sons of light
     Hasted, resorting to the summons high

   • 1893, Francis Thompson, The Hound of Heaven‎:

     Ah! is Thy love indeed
     A weed, albeit an amaranthine weed,
     Suffering no flowers except its own to mount?

   • 1946, Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan, London: Eyre & Spottiswoode:

     “Fuchsia,” said the Doctor, “come along this evening and I’ll give you a tonic which you must make her take every day. By all that’s amaranthine you really must. […] ”

3. Relating to the mythical amaranth flower that never fades.
4. Relating to, or having the form of plants of the genus Amaranthus.

See also

• Appendix:Colors

References

1. Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “amaranthine”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.