Lordly Alcove Crimson

Old English hlāford-līc, lord-like — adjectival suffix -ly. As a color modifier, lordly implies a saturated-and-aristocratic-and-haughty quality, the deep-rich color of pre-modern English-and-French manorial-aristocracy livery and hereditary-estate household-textile. Sits at the bold-and-aristocratic end of the grid, parallel to princely and patrician.

Arabic al-qubba, the-vault. As a color modifier, alcove implies a recessed-bedroom-or-sitting-area quality, the visual register of English-and-French-Country-House-alcove hand-built recessed-and-vaulted bedroom-or-sitting-area-recess-and-window-seat architectural surfaces under English-and-French-Country-House alcove-recess light. Sits at the modifier-and-architecture end of the grid, parallel to niche and atrium 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.