ˈrose-ˌcoloured, a.
[f. rose n.]
1. a. Having the pink or light crimson colour of a rose; roseate, rosy.
| 1526 Tindale Rev. xvii. 3, I sawe a woman sytt apon a rose colored best. 1580 in Liturg. Serv. Q. Eliz. (1847) 578 Strengthen her hand..to double into the bosom of that rose-coloured whore that [etc.]. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage viii. ii. (1614) 733 First coloured blacke, then ash-coloured, then rose-coloured, then red. 1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to C'tess Mar 1 Apr., The..drawers..are of a thin rose-coloured damask. 1789 Pilkington View Derbysh. I. 323 A dry, spongy, violet pulp, from which a rose-coloured pigment may be prepared. 1854 Tomlinson Arago's Astron. 59 Several rose-coloured protuberances..beyond the dark limb of the moon. 1886 A. Winchell Walks Geol. Field 131 A second basin..has its bottom covered by.. rose-coloured salt-crystals. |
b. In specific names, as
rose-coloured algæ,
rose-coloured cow-bird,
rose-coloured flounder,
rose-coloured ouzel,
rose-coloured pastor,
rose-coloured pelican,
rose-coloured sea-anemone,
rose-coloured spoonbill,
rose-coloured starling,
rose-coloured thrush,
rose-coloured vervain: see
quots. and the
ns., and
cf. rose n. 23, 24,
roseate a. 1 b.
| 1861 Bentley Man. Bot. 717 Rhodosporeæ, Florideæ, or *Rose-coloured Algæ. |
| 1837 Macgillivray Hist. Brit. Birds I. 613 The *Rose-coloured Cow-bird (Turdus roseus Linn.) is about the size of the Spotted Starling. |
| 1795 Shaw Naturalist's Miscellany VII. pl. 238 The *Rose-coloured Flounder. 1766, 1832 *rose-coloured ouzel [see ouzel 2 b]. |
| 1825 *rose-coloured pastor [see pastor n. 4]. 1843 Yarrell Brit. Birds II. 52 The Rose-coloured Pastor is an accidental visiter to this country. |
| 1785 Latham Gen. Synopsis of Birds III. ii. 579 *Rose-coloured Pelican, the plumage wholly of a rose-colour. |
| 1802 Bingley Anim. Biogr. (1813) III. 425 The *Rose-coloured Sea Anemone. On this species the Abbé Dicquemaire made several experiments, to ascertain its powers of production. |
| 1870 Gillmore tr. Figuier's Reptiles & Birds (1892) 325 The *Rose-coloured spoonbill, a native of South America, the plumage of which possesses the most beautiful tints. |
| 1843 Yarrell Brit. Birds II. 51 Turdus roseus, *Rose-coloured Starling. |
| 1792 Pennant Arct. Zool. II. Index, *Rose-coloured Thrush. |
| 1822 Hortus Anglicus II. 136 V. Aubletia. *Rose-coloured Vervain... Flowers pink or crimson, numerous, in stalked heads. |
† 2. Clad in red or scarlet robes.
Obs.—1| 1546 Gasser's Prognost. D 5 b, The roase coulered persons subject to Jupiter, as Patriarches, Cardinalles,..shalbe had in much estimation and honour. |
3. fig. Characterized by cheerful optimism, or tendency to regard matters in a highly favourable or attractive light.
rose-coloured spectacles, used in
fig. phrases to indicate that a person's view of something is unduly favourable, optimistic, or idealistic.
| 1854 C. M. Yonge Castle Builders iv. 56 The first rose-coloured light in which they had viewed everything, was wearing off. 1856 Dickens Dorrit (1857) I. xxxiv. 299, I don't like to dispel your generous visions, and I would give any money..to live in such a rose-coloured mist. 1861 Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. II. 102 Oxford was a sort of Utopia to the Captain... He continued..to behold towers, and quadrangles, and chapels,.. through rose-coloured spectacles. 1863 Sat. Rev. 1 Aug. 165 All the facts of the case that might chance to interfere with the rose-coloured view of the ‘Company of Jesus’ that is habitual to him. 1867 A. J. Evans St. Elmo xii. 157, I have a right to all my charming, rose-colored views of this world. 1875 Mrs. Trollope Charming Fellow I. vii. 84 This rose-coloured condition of things did not last. 1921 Princess P. Metternich Days that are no More iii. 104, I was young and favoured by fortune, no troubles had yet befallen me, and I saw everything through rose-coloured spectacles. 1981 Oxford Jrnl. 15 May 8/2 Mrs M― must be viewing Carterton crossroads through rose-coloured spectacles. Far from being vastly improved, it is becoming a ghastly eyesore. |
Hence
rose-ˈcolourist, one who takes a rose-coloured view of things.
nonce-wd.| 1852 C. Reade Peg Woffington (1853) 135 ‘This day, in particular, is a happy one,’ added the rose colourist. |