high-born

A high-born lady attends a formal garden party.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Of noble birth: "high-born" describes a person who comes from a family of high social rank, especially the aristocracy or nobility.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The high-born lady was accustomed to the finest luxuries. (A woman of noble birth.)
  • In many historical societies, high-born individuals were treated with great respect. (People from aristocratic families.)

Advanced Usage

• "high-born" as a modifier: It can be used before nouns to indicate aristocratic origin.

  • The high-born prince refused to marry a commoner. (The prince of noble birth refused to marry someone not from a noble family.)

• In contrast with "low-born": Often used to distinguish social classes.

  • The story explores the conflict between high-born and low-born characters. (The conflict between nobles and commoners.)

Variants and Related Words

• High birth (noun phrase): the state of being born into a noble family.

  • Her high birth gave her many privileges. (Her noble origin brought advantages.)

• Well-born (adj): a synonym meaning born into a good or noble family.

  • The well-born gentleman was educated at the finest schools. (The nobleman received a privileged education.)

Synonyms

• Noble: belonging to the aristocracy.
• Aristocratic: of or relating to the highest social class.
• Patrician: belonging to the ancient Roman nobility, or more generally, the upper class.
• Blue-blooded: of aristocratic or noble descent.

Related Idioms

• Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth: born into wealth and privilege (similar in meaning to "high-born").

  • He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so he never had to worry about money. (He was born into a wealthy, high-born family.)

• Of noble blood: having aristocratic lineage.

  • The knight was of noble blood, as his father was a baron. (He came from a noble family.)