purpŭra (noun F) : πορφύρα.
* Lit., the purple-fish (cf.: bucinum, murex, ostrum),Plin. 9, 36, 60, § 125 sq.
* Transf., purple color, purple, Plin. 9, 37, 61, § 130: violae sublucet purpura nigrae,Verg. G. 4, 274: certantem uvam purpurae,Hor. Epod. 2, 20; Dig. 32, 68 fin.; also, a spurious purple color, prepared from berries (cf. Plin. 9, 41, 65, § 140), Plin. 16, 18, 31, § 77.—Like aurum, gemmae, etc., to designate any valuable object, Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 128; Lucr. 5, 1423; Hor. C. 2, 16, 7: purpuram marinam,Vulg. 1 Macc. 4, 23.
* The purple, i. e. purple cloth, a purple garment: purpura plebeia ac paene fusca,Cic. Sest. 8, 19: usque ad talos demissa purpura, i. e. the praetexta, id. Clu. 40, 111; Quint. 1, 2, 6: lectus eburneus, auro ac purpurā stratus,Suet. Caes. 84.—Esp., of the purple garments worn by kings and magistrates: purpura Pompeium summi velabit honoris,Ov. P. 4, 4, 25: regum,Verg. G. 2, 495.—Cf. in plur.: purpurae Laconicae,Hor. C. 2, 18, 8; Quint. 8, 5, 28.—Hence
* Transf., a lofty station, high dignity: omnis Latio quae servit purpura ferro,i. e. all kings,Luc. 7, 228: purpuram sumere,i. e. the sovereignty,Eutr. 9, 8; Capitol. Max. 14: adorare purpuram,i. e. the emperor,Amm. 21, 9, 8; Cod. Th. 6, 24, 3; Cod. Just. 2, 8, 6; 12: septima purpura,the seventh consulate,Flor. 3, 21, 17: tertia Latios renovārat purpura fasces,Sil. 11, 112: jamque novi praeëunt fasces, nova purpura fulget,Ov. F. 1, 81.
* Of wine: purpura potabilis,Cassiod. Var. 12, 4.

s. TLL