Am"a*ranth (#), n. [L. amarantus, Gr. , unfading, amaranth; priv. + to quench, cause to wither, fr. a root meaning to die, akin to E. mortal; -- so called because its flowers do not soon wither: cf. F. amarante. The spelling with th seems to be due to confusion with Gr. flower.]
1.
An imaginary flower supposed never to fade.
[Poetic]
2. Bot.
A genus of ornamental annual plants (Amaranthus) of many species, with green, purplish, or crimson flowers.
2.
A color inclining to purple.
© Webster 1913.