Tyrian
Americanadjective
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of or relating to ancient Tyre or its people.
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of the color of Tyrian purple.
noun
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a native or inhabitant of ancient Tyre
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short for Tyrian purple
adjective
Etymology
Origin of Tyrian
1505–15; < Latin Tyri ( us ) (< Greek Týrios, derivative of Týros Tyre ) + -an
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.
The common name of the dyestuff, Tyrian purple, derives from the habitat of the mollusks, which the Phoenicians purportedly began harvesting in the 16th century B.C. in the city-state of Tyre in present-day Lebanon.
From New York Times • Mar. 5, 2024
By the 14th century, the secrets of Tyrian purple were lost, according to the University of Chicago Library’s 2007 exhibition “The Origins of Color.”
From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2023
For the ancient Phoenicians, from modern-day Lebanon, the trade in Tyrian purple helped build a mercantile empire that established new colonies across the Mediterranean, including at Carthage, near modern Tunis, under the mythical Queen Dido.
From Reuters • Feb. 8, 2022
Murex mollusks are the only source of the ancient dye, documented by Pliny, known as Tyrian purple.
From Washington Post • Jul. 28, 2021
Tyrian was exceedingly courteous; he offered his sister the choice portions of every dish, and made certain he ate only what she did.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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.
