siege perilous: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (C2/Proficiency)Literary, Historical, Formal, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “siege perilous” mean?
A seat at King Arthur's Round Table reserved for the knight destined to find the Holy Grail.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A seat at King Arthur's Round Table reserved for the knight destined to find the Holy Grail; any position of great honour but also great danger, where failure is catastrophic.
Any situation or role that is extremely prestigious yet fraught with risk, where the occupant is likely to fail unless uniquely qualified, analogous to a 'poisoned chalice'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more recognised in British English due to greater cultural proximity to Arthurian lore, but the term is equally rare and specialised in both variants.
Connotations
In both variants, carries connotations of medieval chivalry, fatal tests, and elite, destined roles.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Almost exclusively encountered in literary analysis, historical texts, or as an erudite metaphor.
Grammar
How to Use “siege perilous” in a Sentence
[The/This/That] + siege perilous + [is/was/remains] + [adjective/complement]To + [verb] + the siege perilousVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “siege perilous” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- Accepting the leadership was akin to occupying the siege perilous; the board expected a miraculous deliverance.
American English
- The quarterback position for that team is the NFL's siege perilous—immense glory awaits, but so does almost certain career ruin.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for a CEO role at a failing company that only a legendary turnaround expert could handle.
Academic
Used in literary criticism discussing Arthurian motifs or metaphorical analyses of leadership.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Not applicable in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “siege perilous”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “siege perilous”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “siege perilous”
- Using 'siege' in its modern military sense. Pronouncing 'perilous' as /pəˈraɪ.ləs/. Using it as a simple adjective-noun phrase (e.g., 'a perilous siege').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Here, 'siege' is an archaic term for a seat or throne, derived from Old French 'siege'. It has no connection to the modern meaning of a military blockade.
Yes, but only as a highly literary or ironic metaphor to describe a CEO or leadership role that is glamorous but likely to lead to the holder's downfall unless they are exceptional.
No. The Siege Perilous was the empty seat at the Round Table reserved for the knight pure enough to find the Holy Grail. Sir Galahad eventually occupied it and succeeded in the Grail quest.
In British English: /ˈper.ɪ.ləs/. In American English: /ˈper.ə.ləs/. The stress is on the first syllable. It does not rhyme with 'eye' (/aɪ/).
A seat at King Arthur's Round Table reserved for the knight destined to find the Holy Grail.
Siege perilous is usually literary, historical, formal, figurative in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To sit in the siege perilous”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SEAT (siege) that is so PERILOUS that only the one true hero can sit in it without being destroyed.
Conceptual Metaphor
A POSITION IS A TEST OF DESTINY / HIGH STATUS IS A PHYSICAL SEAT OF DANGER.
Practice
Quiz
In its modern metaphorical use, 'siege perilous' best describes: