principle (ˈprɪnsɪpəll
)
Definitions
noun
- a standard or rule of personal conduct ⇒
a man of principle
- (often plural) a set of such moral rules ⇒
he'd stoop to anything
he has no principles
- adherence to such a moral code; morality ⇒
it's not the money but the principle of the thing
torn between principle and expediency
- a fundamental or general truth or law ⇒
first principles
- the essence of something ⇒
the male principle
- a source or fundamental cause; origin ⇒
principle of life
- a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the behaviour of a system ⇒
the principle of the conservation of mass
- an underlying or guiding theory or belief ⇒
the hereditary principle
socialist principles
- chemistry a constituent of a substance that gives the substance its characteristics and behaviour ⇒
bitter principle
- See in principle
- See on principle
Word Origin
C14: from Latin principium beginning, basic tenetSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
morals,
standards,
ideals,
honour,
virtue,
ethics,
integrity,
conscience,
morality,
decency,
scruples,
probity,
rectitude,
moral standards sense of duty moral law sense of honour
uprightness,
kaupapa,
=
belief,
rule,
standard,
attitude,
code,
notion,
criterion,
ethic,
doctrine,
canon,
creed,
maxim,
dogma,
tenet,
dictum,
credo,
axiom,
=
rule,
idea,
law,
theory,
basis,
truth,
concept,
formula,
fundamental,
assumption,
essence,
proposition,
verity,
golden rule,
precept,
Quotations
"It is always easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them"
"The most useful thing about a principle is that it can always be sacrificed to expediency"
Translations
- British English:
principle
A principle is a belief that you have about the way you should behave....moral principles.ˈprɪnsɪpl NOUN ...moral principles.
- Spanish:
principio
nm
- French:
principe
nm
- German:
Prinzip
nnt Prinzipien
- Chinese: 原则 n
- Arabic: مَبْدَأ n
- Portuguese: princípio nm
- Russian: принцип nm
- Croatian: princip nm
- Czech: princip nm
- Danish: princip nnt
- Dutch: principe nnt
- Finnish: periaate n
- Greek: αρχή nf
- Italian: principio nm
- Japanese: 主義 n
- Korean: 원칙 n
- Norwegian: prinsipp nnt
- Polish: zasada nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: princípio nm
- European Spanish:
principio
nm
- Swedish: princip nutr
- Thai: หลักปฏิบัติ n
- Turkish: ilke n
- Vietnamese: nguyên tắc n
Usage examples
In principle , of course we would be interested; it's our business.
, Whistler in the Dark (1986)Banks have recognised that there is a continuing business that will not be interrupted by the demise of the principle.
Country Life (2004)Its success story was a perfect illustration of the principle of European solidarity functioning in practise.
Irish Times (2002)AN agreement in principle has been signed for a management buy-out of Donside, the Aberdeenshire papermaking group.
Glasgow Herald (2001)It was the place of philosophers, somewhere they could continue arguing pure principle for ever.
, HEAVEN: A Traveller's Guide to the Undiscovered Country (2002)