μαβής

Etymology
From, ultimately from.

Adjective

 * 1)  azure, navy blue, dark blue
 * 2)  violet, mauve, dark purple
 * 1)  violet, mauve, dark purple
 * 1)  violet, mauve, dark purple
 * 1)  violet, mauve, dark purple

Usage notes
A semantic shift of the colour denoted by the word appears to have occurred in the second half of the 20th century. Earlier (pre-WWII) dictionaries give the meaning exclusively as "dark blue" (cf. Modern ). This is supported by the common use in concurrent literature (see Cavafy quotes). However, starting from the 1950-60s the second meaning of "mauve, dark purple" appears in major dictionaries. According to Sarantakos this is perhaps due to diminishing contact and understanding of the Turkish language, where the term originates, and the semantic influence of phonetically similar (from ). Nowadays, discrepancies are found among major dictionaries; some sources note both meanings, while others only include "mauve, dark purple", indicating the dominance of the latter in colloquial speech.