Devout Diana Crimson

From the Latin devotus, consecrated — used principally in religious contexts for the dignified deep colors of sacred art and ecclesiastical dress. As a color modifier, devout implies saturation combined with restraint: the deep blues of Marian mantles, the deep reds of cardinals' robes. Sits in the bold-and-formal corner alongside imperial.

Latin Diana, Roman-goddess-of-moon-and-hunt. As a color modifier, diana implies a Roman-goddess-and-moon-and-hunter-and-virgin quality, the visual register of Roman-Diana-and-Ephesian-Artemis hand-Roman-goddess-and-moon-and-hunter-and-virgin Roman-Diana-and-Ephesian-Artemis-and-Lake-Nemi diana-and-Roman-goddess-and-moon-and-hunter surfaces under Roman-Diana-and-Ephesian-Artemis-and-Lake-Nemi Aventine-Hill-and-Nemi-grove moonlit-grove-light. Sits at the modifier-and-myth end of the grid, parallel to luna and hera in usage.

From the Old Spanish cremesin, itself from the Arabic qirmiz — the kermes scale insect, dried and ground into a brilliant carmine dye prized in the medieval Mediterranean. For centuries the most expensive red on a draper's shelf, reserved for cardinals, kings, and the cloth that gave English the word crimson. Cooler than scarlet, deeper than rose; the color of pomegranate seeds and a serious occasion.