Purlin, Purline, pur′lin, n. a piece of timber stretching horizontally across the rafters underneath to support them in the middle. [Perh. Fr. pour, for, or par, through, ligne, a line.]
Purloin, pur-loin′, v.t. to carry off to a distance: to take for one's own use: to steal: to plagiarise.—v.i. to practise theft.—n. Purloin′er. [O. Fr. purloignier—L. prolongāre.]
Purple, pur′pl, n. a very dark-red colour formed by the mixture of blue and red: a purple dress or robe, originally worn only by royalty: a robe of honour: the dignity of a king or emperor: a cardinalate, so called from the red hat and robes worn by cardinals.—adj. red tinged with blue: blood-red: bloody.—v.t. to dye purple: to clothe with purple.—v.i. to become purple in colour.—n. Pur′ple-fish, a shellfish of genus Purpura.—adjs. Pur′ple-frost′y (Tenn.), purple with frost or cold; Pur′ple-hued (Shak.), having a purple hue.—n.pl. Pur′ples, petechiæ or spots of livid red on the body: a disease of wheat: an early purple-flowered orchid.—adj. Pur′ple-spiked, having purple spikes.—ns. Pur′ple-wood, -heart, the heartwood of Copaifera pubiflora, used for ramrods.—adj. Pur′plish, somewhat purple.—Purple emperor, one of the largest of British butterflies, and one of the most richly coloured.—Born in the purple, of princely rank or birth; Tyrian purple, a fine purple dye for which the people of ancient Tyre were celebrated. [O. Fr. porpre (Fr. pourpre)—L. purpura—Gr. porphyra, the purple-fish.]
Purport, pur′pōrt, n. design: meaning: signification.—v.t. (also Purport′) to give out as its meaning: to convey to the mind: to seem to mean—often with an infinitive clause as its object.—adj. Pur′portless. [O. Fr., from pur (Fr. pour)—L. pro, for, porter—L. portāre, to carry.]
Purpose, pur′pos, n. idea or aim kept before the mind as the end of effort: aim, intention: effect: (Spens.) conversation: (pl.) a sort of conversational game.—Of, or On, purpose, with design, intentionally; To the purpose, to the point, or material to the question. [O. Fr. pourpos, propos—L. propositum, a thing intended—pro, forward, ponĕre, positum, to place.]
Purpose, pur′pos, v.t. to intend (often followed by an infinitive or participial clause as its object).—v.i. to have an intention: (Spens.) to discourse.—adj. Pur′poseful, having an object: full of meaning.—adv. Pur′posefully.—n. Pur′posefulness.—adj. Pur′poseless, without purpose or effect: aimless.—adv. Pur′poselessly.—n. Pur′poselessness.—adj. Pur′pose-like, having a definite purpose: having the appearance of being fit for a purpose.—adv. Pur′posely, with purpose: intentionally.—n. Pur′poser.—adj. Pur′posive, having an aim: (biol.) functional.—n. Pur′posiveness. [O. Fr. purposer, form of proposer, influenced by Fr. propos.]
Purprise, pur-prīz′, n. an enclosure: the whole compass of a manor.—n. Purprest′ure, a private encroachment upon a public highway, &c. [O. Fr. pourpris—pour, for, prendre—L. prehendĕre, to take.]
Purpura, pur′pū-ra, n. a genus of marine gasteropods: an eruption of small purple spots, caused by extravasation of blood in the skin—also called the Purples.—adj. Pur′purāte, of purple colour.—n. Pur′pure, purple.—adjs. Purpū′real, purple; Purpū′ric, relating to purpura. [L.,—Gr. porphyra.]
Purr, Pur, pur, v.i. to utter a low, murmuring sound, as a cat when pleased: to signify by, or as by, purring.—ns. Purr; Purr′ing, the low, murmuring sound of a cat.—adv. Purr′ingly. [Imit.]
Purse, purs, n. a small bag for money, orig. made of skin: a sum of money, esp. a sum given as a present or offered as a prize: a treasury: a person's finances.—v.t. to put into a purse: to contract as the mouth of a purse: to draw into folds or wrinkles.—n. Purse′-bear′er, one who has charge of the purse of another: a treasurer.—adj. Purse′-bear′ing, pouched, marsupiate.—ns. Purse′ful, as much as a purse can hold: enough to fill a purse; Purse′-mouth (Tenn.), a pursed-up mouth; Purse′-net, a kind of net that can be closed like a purse; Purse′-pride.—adj. Purse′-proud, proud of one's purse or wealth: insolent from wealth.—ns. Purs′er, an officer who has charge of the provisions, clothing, and accounts of a ship, now termed a 'paymaster;' Purs′ership; Purse′-seine, a seine which can be pursed into the shape of a bag.—n.pl. Purse′-strings, the strings fastening a purse.—n. Purse′-tak′ing, robbing.—A light, or empty, purse, poverty; A long, or heavy, purse, riches; Privy purse, an allowance for the private expenses of the British sovereign: an officer in the royal household who pays the sovereign the grant of the civil list for his private expenses. [O. Fr. borse (Fr. bourse)—Low L. bursa—Gr. byrsa, a hide.]