madder

English

madder (Rubia tinctorum)

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈmædə(ɹ)/, [ˈmadə(ɹ)]
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈmædəɹ/, [ˈmæɾəɹ]
  • Rhymes: -ædə(ɹ)

Etymology 1

From Old English mæddre, mædre, from Proto-Germanic (compare Swedish madra), perhaps from a Proto-Indo-European base meaning "blue."

Noun

madder (countable and uncountable, plural madders)

  1. A herbaceous plant, Rubia tinctorum, native to Asia, cultivated for a red-purple dye obtained from the root.
  2. The root of the plant, used as a medicine or a dye.
  3. A dye made from the plant.
  4. A deep reddish purple colour, like that of the dye.
    madder colour:  
    • 1946, Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan:
      Her big head has coloured to a dim and dreadful madder.

Synonyms

Derived terms
Translations

Adjective

madder (not comparable)

  1. Of a deep reddish purple colour, like that of the dye.
Translations

See also

Etymology 2

Inflected forms.

Adjective

madder

  1. comparative form of mad: more mad

Etymology 3

From mead

Noun

madder (plural madders)

  1. Obsolete form of mether.
    • c.1720 Jonathan Swift (translation from the Irish) "O'Rourke's Feast":
      Usequebaugh to our feast - In pails was brought up,
      A hundred at least, - And the madder our cup,
      O there is the sport! […]

References

Anagrams

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