Principle

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French principe, principle, from Old French, from Latin principium beginning, from princip-, princeps initiator

• Date: 14th century

Definitions

• 1 a : a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption

b (1) : a rule or code of conduct (2) : habitual devotion to right principles <a man of principle>

c : the laws or facts of nature underlying the working of an artificial device

• 2 : a primary source : origin
• 3 a : an underlying faculty or endowment <such principles of human nature as greed and curiosity>

b : an ingredient (as a chemical) that exhibits or imparts a characteristic quality

• 4 capitalized Christian Science : a divine principle : god

— in principle : with respect to fundamentals <prepared to accept the proposition in principle> usage Although nearly every handbook and many dictionaries warn against confusing principle and principal, many people still do. Principle is only a noun; principal is both adjective and noun.