principal

principal
principal ► ADJECTIVE 1) first in order of importance; main. 2) denoting an original sum of money invested or lent.
► NOUN 1) the most important person in an organization or group. 2) the head of a school or college. 3) a sum of money lent or invested, on which interest is paid. 4) a person for whom another acts as a representative. 5) Law a person directly responsible for a crime.
DERIVATIVES principalship noun.
USAGE The words principal and principle are pronounced in the same way but they do not have the same meaning. Principal is normally an adjective meaning ‘main or most important’, whereas principle is normally used as a noun meaning ‘a basis of a system of thought or belief’.
ORIGIN Latin principalis 'first, original' , from princeps 'first, chief' .

English terms dictionary. 2015.

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  • principal — principal, ale, aux [ prɛ̃sipal, o ] adj. et n. • 1119; « princier » 1080; lat. principalis « principal, du prince », de princeps I ♦ Adj. 1 ♦ Qui est le plus important, le premier parmi plusieurs. ⇒ 1. capital, essentiel, fondamental, primordial …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • principal — prin·ci·pal 1 / prin sə pəl/ adj 1: being the main or most important, consequential, or influential their principal place of business the principal obligor 2: of, relating to, or constituting principal or a principal the principal amount of the… …   Law dictionary

  • principal — principal, ale 1. (prin si pal, pa l ) adj. 1°   Qui est le plus considérable, en parlant de personnes. Les principaux magistrats. •   Quand on bâtit une maison, quoique les maçons, les charpentiers, les plombiers, les menuisiers travaillent bien …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Principal — may refer to: Education The head of an educational institution: *Principal (school), head of a primary or secondary school *Principal (university), chief executive of a university **Dean (education), a person with significant authority **Provost… …   Wikipedia

  • Principal — Prin ci*pal, a. [F., from L. principalis. See {Prince}.] 1. Highest in rank, authority, character, importance, or degree; most considerable or important; chief; main; as, the principal officers of a Government; the principal men of a state; the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Principal — Prin ci*pal, n. 1. A leader, chief, or head; one who takes the lead; one who acts independently, or who has controlling authority or influence; as, the principal of a faction, a school, a firm, etc.; distinguished from a {subordinate}, {abettor} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Principal — steht für eine alte Schreibweise von Prinzipal den Nachnamen von Victoria Principal (* 1946), US amerikanische Schauspielerin Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit dems …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Principāl — (v. lat.), 1) ursprünglich; 2) vorzüglich, hauptsächlich; 3) der Herr seinen Brödlingen gegenüber; 4) der Besitzer od. Chef einer Handlung, einer Buchdruckerei; 5) bei Speditionsgeschäften der Eigenthümer od. Absender einer Waare; 6) der… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Principal — Principal, der Vorsteher, Herr, der Erste; in der Orgel die tiefste offene Stimme, die Hauptstimme des Orgelwerks, mit starken Metallpfeifen, im Manual 8 , seltener 16füßig, im Pedal (P.haß) 16 , seltener 32füßig. Ferner die 3. Trompetenstimme… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • principal — Primero en autoridad e importancia. Diccionario Mosby Medicina, Enfermería y Ciencias de la Salud, Ediciones Hancourt, S.A. 1999 …   Diccionario médico

  • PRINCIPAL — ALE. adj. Qui est le premier, le plus considérable, le plus remarquable en son genre. Principal emploi. Son principal but. Les points et les articles principaux d un traité, d un contrat de mariage. C est là son principal défaut, sa principale… …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

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