Color as an inherent property of matter; uttemest colours, the extreme colors, i.e. white and black; mene (middel) ~, the intermediate colors, i.e. yellow, orange, red, purple, and 'green'. [Color results from the blending of the four 'qualities', hot, cold, dry, and moist, and becomes visible through light. The spectrum includes white and black.]

(a) Visible color (of an object); beren ~, have (a certain) color; (b) the color (of eyes, hair); (c) the color (of body fluids, morbid blemishes, etc.).

Her. The color of the ground of a coat of arms or a shield; colours, bearings; also fig.

(a) Coloring matter; pigment, dye, paint; (b) cloth of ~, ?dyed cloth.

(a) The color of the skin, esp. of the face; complexion; cler, dep, fair, fin, fresh ~; ashen, blak, pale ~; red, whit ~; cacchen ~, to blush; (b) fresh, ruddy complexion; faden of ~, lesen ~, grow pale.

A stylistic device, figure, or embellishment; colours of retorik, ~ of speche; also, literary skill.

(a) A reason or argument advanced by way of justifying, explaining, or excusing an action; grounds for an action; an argument offered in support of a proposition, substance (of an argument); haven ~, to have proper grounds, have a reason, be justified; taken ~, excuse oneself; with fair ~, for a good reason or excuse; ~ of right, a claim to a right; ~ of prof, an argument (for proving sth.); etc.; (b) bi (under) color of, on the ground or strength of, in the name of, by means of; bi ani (no) maner of ~, for any (no) reason, in any (no) way, under any (no) circumstances.

(a) A specious reason or argument, a misrepresentation; a pretext; a disguise, ruse, trick; haven ~, have a pretext; hiden under ~, conceal (the truth); (b) under (fals) colour, on a pretext, by deceptive means; under (bi) ~ of, under the guise of, under cover of.

Manner [cp. 4a (b)]; of o color, of one and the same kind: haven ~ of sinne, be sinful; with a swete ~, (smell) sweetly.

colour-maker, one who makes pigments or dyes.