ˈheaven-born, a.
1. Of celestial birth, of divine origin.
| 1595 J. Weever Epigr. iv. xxii. (1599) E vj, Some heaven born goddesse. 1629 Milton Nativity 30 While the Heaven-born child All meanly wrapped in the rude manger lies. 1794 Coleridge Monody on Chatterton 16, I weep that heaven-born Genius so should fall. 1863 I. Williams Baptistery i. vi, The immortal shoot Of heaven-born virtue. |
2. Of such original genius or ability as to seem specially prepared or designed by Heaven for the work. Now often sarcastic.
| 1789 in Parl. Hist. XXVII. 1080 (Ho. Lords 17 Jan.) The duke [of Chandos] parodying what Mr. Pitt's father had said of General Wolfe, pronounced the present Chancellor of the Exchequer a heaven-born minister. 1789 Burke Sp. Ho. Com. 6 Feb. Speeches 1816 III. 394 The present minister, he understood, had been called ‘a heaven-born minister’ in another place. 1827 Scott Jrnl. 27 Aug., He is a heaven-born teacher. 1858 J. B. Norton Topics 265 The same Heaven-born amateurs still occupy the bench, and the quality of their judgments cannot but be the same. |