Tyrian purple, historically extracted from Murex crustaceans, was a symbol of royalty due to its difficulty to obtain. The formula for making it has been lost, but synthetic dyes are used instead. The Phoenicians first produced it in Tyre, and it was colorfast and closer to magenta. To make it, shellfish were harvested and processed […]
Purple sweet potatoes have a deep purple flesh and are high in antioxidants. They are becoming more readily available in traditional supermarkets and can be prepared in various ways, such as roasting or mashing. They should not be confused with purple yams or potatoes. Purple sweet potatoes are a type that have light purple skin […]
The Purple Heart is a military decoration awarded to service members seriously injured or killed in combat. It has a long history dating back to General George Washington’s Badge of Military Merit in 1782. The modern Purple Heart consists of a white-edged purple ribbon attached to a medallion depicting Washington’s head in profile. It is […]
A purple state is a state where the vote is split between Democratic and Republican candidates, making it a hotspot for electoral contests. It is also known as a swing or battleground state. The electoral college system means candidates can win without winning the popular vote. Politicians aim to attract undecided voters to win a […]
The purple pea is a purple pod that grows on a legume plant and is considered more strongly flavored than other peas. It grows best in moderate climates and is thought to have originated in Africa. It can be purchased fresh, frozen, dried, or canned and is high in protein. The purple pea, also commonly […]
Purple prose is overly elaborate language used in written prose, first recorded in 1590. It occurs when too many adjectives, metaphors, and similes are used. Writers should avoid it, but it can be addressed during editing. Raymond Carver’s editor removed nearly half of his stories. Purple prose occurs when a writer decides to use overly […]
“Born to the purple” is an idiom referring to someone born into royalty or a wealthy, influential family. The phrase comes from the difficulty of making a particular shade of purple cloth, which was reserved for royalty in ancient times. The tradition continued in Byzantine and European monarchies, but eventually relaxed. The phrase still indicates […]
