sepia

American  

[see-pee-uh] / ˈsi pi ə /

noun

1. a brown pigment obtained from the inklike secretion of various cuttlefish and used with brush or pen in drawing.

2. a drawing made with this pigment.

3. a dark brown.

4. Photography. a print or photograph made in this color.

5. any of several cuttlefish of the genus Sepia, producing a dark fluid used naturally for defense and, by humans, in ink.

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adjective

1. of a brown, grayish brown, or olive brown similar to that of sepia ink.

sepia British  

/ ˈsiːpɪə /

noun

1. a dark reddish-brown pigment obtained from the inky secretion of the cuttlefish

2. any cuttlefish of the genus Sepia

3. a brownish tone imparted to a photograph, esp an early one such as a calotype. It can be produced by first bleaching a print (after fixing) and then immersing it for a short time in a solution of sodium sulphide or of alkaline thiourea

4. a brownish-grey to dark yellowish-brown colour

5. a drawing or photograph in sepia

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adjective

1. of the colour sepia or done in sepia

   a sepia print

Other Word Forms

• sepialike
  adjective
• sepic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sepia

1560–70; < Latin sēpia cuttlefish, its secretion < Greek sēpía; akin to sêpsis sepsis

Explanation

Sepia is a reddish-brown color, sometimes specifically made for artists from cuttlefish ink. The distinctly brown-tinted photographs of the 19th century are also described as sepia. In both Greek and Latin, sepia means "cuttlefish." The ancient Greeks and Romans were the first to take advantage of the fluid these fish release when they're startled — it was prized as a pigment for both writers and artists. The word itself came to be used for both the pigment and its red-brown color. Antique sepia-colored photographs are so well known and popular that many modern photographs are deliberately edited to appear sepia-toned.

Example Sentences

Salon Food had the pleasure of speaking with Zimmerman about his time at Sepia, his inspirations at Proxi, the role of music in his life, standout dishes, why he cooks and more.

From Salon • Aug. 17, 2024

He was celebrated on the covers of Black magazines like Jet and Sepia.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024

The cause was a brain hemorrhage following a long illness, said Esa Epstein, a curator who, with Sepia International, organized two of Mr. Sundaram’s United States exhibitions.

From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2023

Jukebox was based on 7th Street across from MacArthur Park, and Rupe began his enterprise with a frantic, piano-driven R&B instrumental by the Sepia Tones called “Boogie #1.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2022

Mr. Levitan, the owner of Sepia, called and asked me to come in for an editorial conference with Mrs. Jackson.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin