sepia

[ see-pee-uh ]

noun

1. a brown pigment obtained from the inklike secretion of various cuttlefish and used with brush or pen in drawing.
2. a drawing made with this pigment.
3. a dark brown.
4. Photography. a print or photograph made in this color.
5. any of several cuttlefish of the genus Sepia, producing a dark fluid used naturally for defense and, by humans, in ink.

adjective

1. of a brown, grayish brown, or olive brown similar to that of sepia ink.

sepia

/ ˈsiːpɪə /

noun

1. a dark reddish-brown pigment obtained from the inky secretion of the cuttlefish
2. any cuttlefish of the genus Sepia
3. a brownish tone imparted to a photograph, esp an early one such as a calotype. It can be produced by first bleaching a print (after fixing) and then immersing it for a short time in a solution of sodium sulphide or of alkaline thiourea
4. a brownish-grey to dark yellowish-brown colour
5. a drawing or photograph in sepia

adjective

1. of the colour sepia or done in sepia

   a sepia print

Other Words From

• sepi·a·like adjective
• se·pic [see, -pik, sep, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sepia¹

1560–70; < Latin sēpia cuttlefish, its secretion < Greek sēpía; akin to sêpsis sepsis

Word History and Origins

Origin of sepia¹

C16: from Latin: a cuttlefish, from Greek; related to Greek sēpein to make rotten

Example Sentences

The website also notes "Sepia celebrates tradition — with a modern twist."

From Salon

He was celebrated on the covers of Black magazines like Jet and Sepia.

From Seattle Times

While at Edwards, Dwight was celebrated on the covers of Black magazines like Jet and Sepia.

From Seattle Times

As one of five nominees for a nationwide prize in what’s known as the Oscars of the restaurant world, this Eastern Washington college-town favorite suddenly found itself in the company of Chicago’s Michelin-starred Sepia.

From Seattle Times

The cause was a brain hemorrhage following a long illness, said Esa Epstein, a curator who, with Sepia International, organized two of Mr. Sundaram’s United States exhibitions.

From New York Times