Incarnadine
/ɪnˈkɑːrnəˌdaɪn/
adjectiveverbC2
Definition
Incarnadine describes a deep red or pink color, similar to the color of human skin or fresh blood. When used as a verb, it means to color something with this red or pink shade. It is an old, poetic word not often used in everyday speech.
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See It in Action
Adjective describing a color that is bright red or pinkish red
- •The sky was painted in incarnadine hues at sunset.
- •She wore an incarnadine dress that caught everyone’s attention.
- •The petals of the flower had an incarnadine shade, glowing in the sunlight.
Verb meaning to make something red or pink in color
- •The artist incarnadined the canvas with strokes of bright red paint.
- •The wound incarnadined the cloth as the blood soaked through.
- •His cheeks incarnadined with embarrassment after the mistake.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "incarnadine" like "red" (A1 word), but more specific and poetic—it is red with a pink or flesh tone, not just any red
- ✓Picture a fresh rose petal or the color of blood just under the skin, bright and alive
- ✓It's the feeling of seeing a sunset that colors the sky with rich reds and pinks, full of warmth and life
- ✓Sounds like "in-CAR-nuh-dine" → imagine a red car shining brightly in the sun, glowing with a pinkish light
- ✓In Shakespeare’s plays, "incarnadine" is used to describe blood staining something deeply red, like in "Macbeth"
- ✓NOT like "red" (which can be any shade), "incarnadine" is a special red that looks like skin or fresh blood
- ✓NOT like "pink" (lighter and softer), incarnadine is deeper and richer in color
Try Other Words
- •Redden: to make red (Use when talking about the action of becoming red, less poetic)
- •Crimson: a deep red color (Use when describing a strong, dark red color)
- •Rose: a pinkish red color (Use when the red is lighter and softer)
- •Blush: to become pink/red in the face (Use for emotions like embarrassment or shyness)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "in-" (into) + "carna" (from Latin "carne" meaning flesh) + suffix "-dine"
- •Etymology: From Latin "incarnare" meaning "to make flesh" or "to become flesh," related to the color of flesh or blood
- •Historical development: Used in older English literature and poetry, especially by Shakespeare, to describe blood or flesh color
- •Modern usage: Rare and poetic, mostly found in literature or artistic descriptions, not common in everyday speech
Reflect & Connect
•How does using a word like "incarnadine" change the feeling or mood of a description compared to just saying "red"?
•Can you think of moments in nature or art where a color like incarnadine makes a scene more powerful or emotional?
Fill in the blanks
1.The sunset turned the clouds an ___ color, mixing red and pink light across the sky.
2.When she blushed deeply, her cheeks became ___ with embarrassment.
3.The artist used bright paint to ___ the canvas with a warm, red shade.
4.Unlike plain red, incarnadine often has a ___ tone, like skin or fresh blood.
5.Shakespeare used "incarnadine" to describe the way blood ___ the hands in his plays.
6.The flower’s petals were not just red, but a rich, ___ color that seemed to glow.
7.When the wound bled, it slowly ___ the cloth with a deep red stain.