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countable and uncountable, plural madders
A herbaceous plant, Rubia tinctorum, native to Asia, cultivated for a red-purple dye (alizarin) obtained from the root. examples
The root of the plant, used as a medicine or a dye. examples
A dye made from the plant. examples
A deep reddish purple colour, like that of the dye. quotations examples
Her big head has coloured to a dim and dreadful madder.
1946, Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan
not comparable
Of a deep reddish purple colour, like that of the dye. examples
third-person singular simple present madders, present participle maddering, simple past and past participle maddered
(transitive, rare) To dye with madder.
comparative form of mad: more mad examples
plural madders
Obsolete form of mether. quotations examples
Usequebaugh to our feast - In pails was brought up, / A hundred at least, - And the madder our cup, / O there is the sport! […]
c.1720 Jonathan Swift (translation from the Irish) "O'Rourke's Feast"
Eye dialect spelling of matter. examples