principal

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Primary

   Primary; most important; first level in importance.

   • Smith is the principal architect of this design.
   • The principal cause of the failure was poor planning.
2. 2

   Of or relating to a prince

   Of or relating to a prince; princely.

   • But walkt at will, and wandred to and fro, / In the pride of his freedome principall.
3. 3

   Chosen or assumed among a branch of possible values of a multi-valued function so that…

   Chosen or assumed among a branch of possible values of a multi-valued function so that the function is single-valued.

   • Two is the principal square root of 4. Both −2 and +2 are square roots of 4.
4. ›+ 15 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      The money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are…

      The money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are calculated.

      • A portion of your mortgage payment goes to reduce the principal, and the rest covers interest.
      • In March 1902, I find in the statement of liabilities and assets £711 put down as arrears of interest, but there is no entry of arrears of principal.
      • 2012, Denis Clifford, Plan Your Estate, 11th Edition, NOLO, US, page 298, For instance, in some states, dividends that have automatically been reinvested will be treated as principal.
   2. 5

      The chief administrator of a school.

      • The important administrative figure to the teacher is the school principal.
      • The problem was neatly summed up by one principal in Australia who said recently: ‘There is no incentive for me to develop my best teachers to become my successor.[…]’
   3. 6

      The chief executive and chief academic officer of a university or college.

      • Coordinate term: bursar
   4. 7

      A legal person that authorizes another (the agent) to act on their behalf

      A legal person that authorizes another (the agent) to act on their behalf; or on whose behalf an agent or gestor in a negotiorum gestio acts.

      • When an attorney represents a client, the client is the principal who permits the attorney, the client′s agent, to act on the client′s behalf.
      • My principal sells metal shims.
      • The firm admitted the amount owed, but averred as an affirmative defense that it had hired the expert as an agent of a disclosed principal, the client.
   5. 8

      The primary participant in a crime.

      • The accessories may be prosecuted, tried and punished, though the principal has not been prosecuted or has been acquitted.
   6. 9

      Either party in a duel.

      • The old man raised his arm as though it had been palsied, and fired, of course without effect. The other principal immediately deloped, much to the satisfaction of my friend and all present.
   7. 10

      A partner or owner of a business.

   8. 11

      A type of stop on a pipe organ consisting of flue pipes with a bright tonal quality. They…

      A type of stop on a pipe organ consisting of flue pipes with a bright tonal quality. They are also sometimes referred to as a diapason.

   9. 12

      The construction that gives shape and strength to a roof, generally a truss of timber or…

      The construction that gives shape and strength to a roof, generally a truss of timber or iron; or, loosely, the most important member of a piece of framing.

   10. 13

       The first two long feathers of a hawk's wing.

       • a birde whose principals be scarce growne out
       • The first two feathers - Principals
   11. 14

       One of the turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and centre of…

       One of the turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and centre of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned

   12. 15

       An essential point or rule

       An essential point or rule; a principle.

       • Set two classes of monitors to question each other; so that one may try to outquestion the other. Explain to them the principal of every subject they have to teach.
   13. 16

       A dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet…

       A dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company.

   14. 17

       A security principal.

   15. 18

       A main character or lead actor.

The neighborhood

• neighborprincipally
• neighborprincipalship
• neighborPITI payment
• neighborprince
• neighborprincipality
• neighborprinciple