Lewis & Short

purpŭra, ae, f. [πορφύρα].

  1. I. Lit., the purple-fish (cf.: bucinum, murex, ostrum), Plin. 9, 36, 60, § 125 sq.
  2. II. 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.
    1. B. 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,
      1. 2. 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.
      2. 3. Of wine: purpura potabilis, Cassiod. Var. 12, 4.