Atrosanguineous

/ˌætrəsæŋˈɡwɪniəs/ adjective

Definition

Having a dark blood-red or very dark reddish color.

Etymology

From Latin atro- (dark) + sanguineus (blood-red, from sanguis meaning 'blood'). This elaborate adjective combines two Latin elements to describe a specific shade seen in certain minerals, tissues, or objects.

Kelly Says

Atrosanguineous is one of English's most baroque color words—it literally means 'dark-blood-colored' and was used by 19th-century naturalists describing everything from minerals to diseased tissues. It's the kind of word that makes you feel like a Victorian gentleman scientist.

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