Definition

A type of violet dye that comes from certain lichens, specifically from the genera Roccella and Lecanora.

Example

The artist used archil to create beautiful violet hues in her paintings.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of archil?

Yeah, it's that natural dye, right?

Exactly! It comes from certain lichens and gives a beautiful violet color.

I would love to see how it looks on fabric!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'archil' comes from the Latin 'archil' (meaning a type of dye) and is derived from the Greek 'arkhē' (meaning beginning or chief) combined with 'chylos' (meaning juice or fluid). It refers to a dye obtained from certain lichens, emphasizing its primary or chief use in coloring.

Memory Tip

Think of 'chief' ('archē') and 'juice' ('chylos') to remember that 'archil' is a primary dye derived from lichens.

Visually Confused Words