Staving Tim may:
>Peter Bleackley wrote at 2004-03-17 09:17:45 (+0000)
> > Staving Tim May:
> > >
> > >Mmmm, I don't agree with all of this. "To blue" is to my knowledge only
> > >found as a technical term in metalworking, but I think "to brown" has
> > >more general applicability; it's principally used in the kitchen, but
> > >I find it acceptable for e.g. the action of the sun on skin. By
> > >contrast, I'm not sure I can think of an example where I'd find "to
> > >purple" natural.
> >
> >
> >
> > Vespasian's legions purpled their general.
> >
> > Pete
>
>I'm not familiar with such a usage, although I can understand it in
>context. I assume this is a direct translation of the Latin idiom?
Simply my own coinage for how "purple" could be plausibly verbed. The
expression in use is "raise to the purple".
Pete