scarlet
Americannoun
-
a bright-red color inclining toward orange.
-
cloth or clothing of this color.
adjective
-
of the color scarlet.
-
flagrantly offensive.
Their sins were scarlet.
noun
-
a vivid red colour, sometimes with an orange tinge
-
cloth or clothing of this colour
adjective
-
of the colour scarlet
-
sinful or immoral, esp unchaste
Etymology
Origin of scarlet
1200–50; Middle English < Old French escarlate < Medieval Latin scarlata, scarletum, perhaps < Arabic saqirlāṭ, siqillāṭ < Medieval Greek sigillátos < Latin sigillātus decorated with patterns in relief; sigillate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I am Llewelyn the Fifteenth, Prince of the Red Woods,” he said while wringing the water from his long scarlet cape.
From Literature
Mama said something about scarlet fever, Daddy said something else about mumps or chicken pox, Mama was calling the doctor, Daddy was wrapping me up in a blanket and putting me in the truck.
From Literature
Among papers scattered in the dusty attic he finds, along with a scarlet and gold embroidered A, the true story of Hester Prynne written by the surveyor from 100 years before.
Trees rose halfway up the hill and then stopped, and the hill went on alone, a great dark swell of land against the scarlet setting of the sun.
From Literature
Aladdin Sane, with his face strafed by a scarlet firebolt edged in blue, blue, electric blue, is quintessential Bowie iconography.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
