Definition: Indigo

From New World Encyclopedia

Etymology

Sixteenth century (as indico, modern spelling from the seventeenth century), Spanish índigo, Portuguese endego (modern índigo), or Dutch (via Portuguese) indigo, all from Latin indicum (indigo), from Ancient Greek ἰνδικόν or indikón (Indian dye), from Ἰνδία or Indía. Doublet of Indic.

Noun

indigo (countable and uncountable, plural indigos or indigoes)

  1. A purplish-blue color.
    Indigo seemed to be the color that fit my personality the best.
  2. An indigo-colored dye obtained from certain plants (the indigo plant or woad), or a similar synthetic dye.
  3. An indigo plant, such as from species in genera Indigofera, Amorpha (false indigo), Baptisia (wild indigo), and Psorothamnus and Dalea (indigo bush).

Derived terms

  • Chinese indigo
  • false indigo
  • green indigo
  • indigo bird
  • indigo blue
  • indigo brown
  • indigo bunting
  • indigo red

Adjective

indigo (comparative more indigo, superlative most indigo)

  1. having a deep purplish-blue color
    I wore my brand new indigo hat hoping they would be impressed.

Credits

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