Definition of "highborn"
highborn
adjective
not comparable
(archaic) Of high social standing as a result of having been born a member of an upper-level social class.
Quotations
I am too high-born to be propertied,To be a secondary at control.
c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene ii]
The young Irishman was not a little touched and elated by the high-born damsel's partiality for him.
1857–1859, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, “In Which Cupid Plays a Considerable Part”, in The Virginians. A Tale of the Last Century, volume II, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1859, page 180
He is a career rather than a conviction politician, but too highborn to be written off as a mere scaler of the greasy pole. He is a scion of the class that, deep down, believes it was born to rule.
2007 July 14, Lesley White, “Face of Tories' new deal—Gordon Brown is enjoying a honeymoon now”, in The Australian
(archaic) Born a member of an upper-level social class (although not necessarily retaining high social standing)
Quotations
The references to the lady's long-standing affection for her loyal, high-born servant girl provide a succinct intimation that the lady herself is not a wholly repellent character.
1996, Peter F. Ainsworth, "'The Letter Killeth': Law and Spirit in Marie De France's Lay of Le Fresne," French Studies, volume L, no. 1 (Jan.), page 5
Of, pertaining to, or befitting people of high social standing.
Quotations
Dowling says that most performances of Chekhov plays have been filtered through translations into a British highborn sensibility.
1996 June 17, Jayne M. Blanchard, “Cherry Jubilee: New artistic director Joe Dowling sees the comedy in Chekhov and intends to bring a lighter 'Cherry Orchard' to the Guthrie Stage”, in St. Paul Pioneer Press, page 8B