perse

[purs]

See more synonyms for perse on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of a very deep shade of blue or purple.

Origin of perse

1325–75; Middle English pers < Medieval Latin persus, perhaps variant of perseus kind of blue, itself alteration of Latin Persicus Persian

St.-John Perse

[sin-juh n purs]

noun

Alexis Saint-Léger Léger, 1887–1975, French diplomat and poet: Nobel Prize in literature 1960.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for perse

color, mauve, plum, lilac, lavender, periwinkle, violet, heliotrope, pomegranate, mulberry, amethyst, magenta, wine, orchid, amaranthine, perse, violaceous

Examples from the Web for perse

Historical Examples of perse

Circe was the daughter of Sol and Perse, and was celebrated for her skill in magic.
Human Animals
Frank Hamel
Circe was the daughter of Helios (the Sun) by the ocean-nymph Perse.
Milton's Comus
John Milton
It is less than two hundred feet from the gate to Perse's doorsteps.
Truxton King
George Barr McCutcheon
The Duke of Perse was lying back in the seat, his face like that of a dead man.
Truxton King
George Barr McCutcheon
At this the Duke of Perse came to his feet again, an angry gleam in his eyes.
Truxton King
George Barr McCutcheon

British Dictionary definitions for perse

perse

noun

1. a dark greyish-blue colour
2. (as adjective)perse cloth

Word Origin for perse

C14: from Old French, from Medieval Latin persus, perhaps changed from Latin Persicus Persian

Perse

noun

Saint-John (ˈsɪndʒən), real name Alexis Saint-Léger . 1887–1975, French poet, born in Guadeloupe. His works include Anabase (1922) and Chronique (1960). Nobel prize for literature 1960

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for perse

adj.

late 14c., "blue, bluish-gray," later "purplish-black," from Old French pers "(dark) blue, livid; wan, pale," from Late Latin persus, perhaps a back-formation from one of the early European forms of Persia.