v. Also 7 enpurple, 6 inpurple, 7–8 impurple. [f. EN- + PURPLE.] trans. To make purple; to redden.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. vii. 17. Wildings … whose sides empurpled were with smyling red.
1623. Drumm. of Hawth., Cypress Grove, Wks. (1711), 119. The Violets have their Time, though they impurple not the Winter. Ibid. (c. 1630), Poems, Wks. (1711), 5/1. O Sacred Blush, enpurpling Cheeks pure Skies With Crimson Wings.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 364. The bright Pavement impurpl’d with Celestial Roses smil’d.
1755. Johnson, Empurple.
1772. Sir W. Jones, Laura, 62. The rising flowers impurpled every dale.
1804. J. Grahame, Sabbath, 489. That setting sun Is now empurpling Scotland’s mountain tops.
18[?]. Mrs. Browning, Lam. for Adonis, v. The blood ran away And empurpled the thigh.
1884. Hunter & Whyte, My Ducats & My Daughter, i. (1885), 2. A dye-work … daily empurpled the stream.
b. To robe or clothe in purple. rare.
1598. Florio, Porporare, to impurple or inroabe with scarlet.
1868. Beecher, Serm. Crowned Suffering. The ribald soldiery … empurple him [Christ].
