principal.html - adj. & n.
--adj.

1 (usu. attrib.) first in rank or importance; chief (the principal town of the district).
2 main, leading (a principal cause of my success).
3 (of money) constituting the original sum invested or lent.

--n.

1 a head, ruler, or superior.
2 the head of some schools, colleges, and universities.
3 the leading performer in a concert, play, etc.
4 a capital sum as distinguished from interest or income.
5 a person for whom another acts as agent etc.
6 (in the UK) a civil servant of the grade below Secretary.
7 the person actually responsible for a crime.
8 a person for whom another is surety.
9 each of the combatants in a duel.
10 a a main rafter supporting purlins. b a main girder.
11 an organ stop sounding an octave above the diapason.
12 Mus. the leading player in each section of an orchestra.

principal boy (or girl) an actress who takes the leading male (or female) part in a pantomime. principal clause Gram. a clause to which another clause is subordinate. principal in the first degree a person directly responsible for a crime as its actual perpetrator. principal in the second degree a person directly responsible for a crime as aiding in its perpetration. principal parts Gram. the parts of a verb from which all other parts can be deduced.

principalship n. [ME f. OF f. L principalis first, original (as PRINCE)]

principal.html - n.
(pl. -ies)
1 a State ruled by a prince.
2 the government of a prince.
3 (in pl.) the fifth order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.
4 (the Principality) Brit. Wales. [ME f. OF principalit

f. LL principalitas -tatis (as PRINCIPAL)]

principal.html - adv.
for the most part; chiefly.

principal.html - n.
1 a State ruled by a prince.
2 Rom.Hist. the rule of the early emperors during which some republican forms were retained. [ME f. OF principat or L principatus first place]

principal.html - n.
1 a fundamental truth or law as the basis of reasoning or action (arguing from first principles; moral principles).
2 a a personal code of conduct (a person of high principle). b (in pl.) such rules of conduct (has no principles).
3 a general law in physics etc. (the uncertainty principle).
4 a law of nature forming the basis for the construction or working of a machine etc.
5 a fundamental source; a primary element (held water to be the first principle of all things).
6 Chem. a constituent of a substance, esp. one giving rise to some quality, etc.

in principle as regards fundamentals but not necessarily in detail. on principle on the basis of a moral attitude (I refuse on principle). [ME f. OF principe f. L principium source, (in pl.) foundations (as PRINCE)]

principal.html - adj.
based on or having (esp. praiseworthy) principles of behaviour.