sepia Hear it!

sepia definition

se·pia (sē′pē ə)

noun

  1. a dark-brown pigment prepared from the inky fluid secreted by cuttlefish
  2. a dark reddish-brown color
  3. a drawing or photographic print in this color

Etymology: ModL, name of a genus of cuttlefishes < L, the cuttlefish < Gr sēpia < sēpein, to cause to rot (from the inky fluid emitted), akin to sapros, rotten

adjective

  1. of sepia
  2. dark reddish-brown

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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