born to the purple

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Calque of Ancient Greek πορφυρογέννητος (porphurogénnētos); purple was a luxury color reserved for the Byzantine imperial family. In other kingdoms as well, purple has been traditionally associated with royalty; in some times and places this was because vibrant purple dyes were expensive.

Adjective

born to the purple (not comparable)

  1. Born and raised in a royal family.
    • 1999, Anthony Richard Birley, Septimius Severus: the African emperor, page 57:
      No one had had any experience of an emperor like Commodus, a Caesar born to the purple.
  2. (loosely) Of children, born of prominent or high-ranking parents.
    Near-synonyms: to the manor born, born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

Translations

See also

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