born to the purple

English

Alternative forms

• born in the purple

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

Related terms

• royal purple, regal purple

Translations

born and raised in a royal family

• Hungarian: bíborban született

children born of prominent or high-ranking parents

See also

• nepotism baby