The Purple (Noun)
Meaning 1
(Roman Catholic Church) official dress of a cardinal; so named after the Tyrial purple color of the robes.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
(in ancient Rome) position of imperial status; "he was born to the purple".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Born to the purple, the young prince was groomed from birth to take the throne.
- As a member of the imperial family, she was born to the purple and destined for greatness.
- The emperor's children were born to the purple, and their lives were marked by luxury and privilege.
- The phrase "born to the purple" referred to the fact that the Roman emperors wore garments dyed with expensive Tyrian purple.
- By virtue of his birth, he was born to the purple and held a position of imperial status from a young age.