born to the purple en · ADJ
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.
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) Born and raised in a royal family.
No one had had any experience of an emperor like Commodus, a Caesar born to the purple.
1999, Anthony Richard Birley, Septimius Severus: the African emperor, page 57:
-
(broadly, not-comparable) Of children, born of prominent or high-ranking parents.
Near-synonyms: to the manor born, born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| born in the purple | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
royal purple · regal purple · nepotism baby
Synonyms
to the manor born · born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
Translations (1)
hu bíborban született (born and raised in a royal family)