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Stage 1 of 3
malva
Latin · ancient
"the mallow plant"
the mallow plant, whose flowers gave their name to a pale purple color
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Stage 2 of 3
mauve
French · 1800s
"a pale purple color"
carried into French for the pale purple color of the mallow flower
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Stage 3 of 3
mauve
English · 1859
"a pale purple color"
popularized in English after the invention of the first synthetic dye of this shade
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