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principle
prin·ci·ple / ˈprinsəpəl/ • n. 1. a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning: the basic principles of Christianity. ∎ (usu. principles) a rule or belief governing one's personal behavior: struggling to be true to their own principles| she resigned over a matter of principle. ∎ morally correct behavior and attitudes: a man of principle. ∎ a general scientific theorem or law that has numerous special applications across a wide field. ∎ a natural law forming the basis for the construction or working of a machine: these machines all operate on the same general principle. 2. a fundamental source or basis of something: the first principle of all things was water. ∎ a fundamental quality or attribute determining the nature of something; an essence: the combination of male and female principles. ∎ Chem. an active or characteristic constituent of a substance, obtained by simple analysis or separation: the active principle in the medulla is epinephrine. PHRASES: in principle as a general idea or plan, although the details are not yet established or clear: the government agreed in principle to a peace plan that included a cease-fire. ∎ used to indicate that although something is theoretically possible, it may not actually happen: in principle, the banks are entitled to withdraw these loans when necessary. on principle because of or in order to demonstrate one's adherence to a particular belief: he refused, on principle, to pay the fine. |
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Cite this article
"principle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "principle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-principle.html "principle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-principle.html |
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principle
principle † origin, source; fundamental source, quality, truth, etc. XIV; general law or rule XVI (of nature XIX); (elementary) constituent XVII. — AN. *principle, var. of (O)F. principe — L. principium beginning, source, (pl.) foundations, elements, f. princeps, princip-, first; see PRINCE.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "principle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "principle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-principle.html T. F. HOAD. "principle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-principle.html |
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Principle
PRINCIPLEA fundamental, well-settledrule of law. A basic truth or undisputed legal doctrine; a given legal proposition that is clear and does not need to be proved. A principle provides a foundation for the development of other laws and regulations. |
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"Principle." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Principle." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437703486.html "Principle." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437703486.html |
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principle
principle •apple, chapel, chappal, Chappell, dapple, grapple, scrapple
•scalpel
•ample, trample
•pineapple
•carpal, carpel
•example, sample
•sepal
•stemple, temple
•maple, papal, staple
•peepul, people, steeple
•tradespeople • sportspeople
•townspeople • workpeople
•cripple, fipple, nipple, ripple, stipple, tipple, triple
•dimple, pimple, simple, wimple
•Oedipal • maniple • manciple
•municipal
•principal, principle
•participle • multiple
•archetypal, disciple, typal
•prototypal
•hopple, popple, stopple, topple
•gospel
•Constantinople, copal, nopal, opal, Opel
•duple, pupal, pupil, scruple
•quadruple • septuple • sextuple
•quintuple • octuple
•couple, supple
•crumple, rumple, scrumple
•syncopal • episcopal • purple
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Cite this article
"principle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "principle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-principle.html "principle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-principle.html |
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