Sekirov Dictionary

principle

/ˈpɹɪn.sɪ.pəl/

noun 9
verb 1
forms 3
phrases 1

noun9

•
an idea accepted as basic and true, from which other ideas or rules follow
- We need some sort of principles to reason from.
•
A rule used to choose among solutions to a problem.
- The principle of least privilege holds that a process should only receive the permissions it needs.
•
A rule or law of nature, or the basic idea on how the laws of nature are applied.
- Bernoulli's principle
- The Pauli Exclusion Principle prevents two fermions from occupying the same state.
•
Moral rule or aspect.
- I don't doubt your principles.
- You are clearly a person of principle.
•
A fundamental essence, particularly one producing a given quality.
- Many believe that life is the result of some vital principle.
•
A chemical compound within plant or animal tissue that is characteristic of it and more or less peculiar to it, such that it defines the character of that tissue from a human viewpoint (as for example nicotine in tobacco).
- Cathartine is the bitter, purgative principle of senna. — 1845
•
A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
- The soul of man is an active principle. — 1664
•
An original faculty or endowment.
- those active principles whose direct and ultimate object is the communication either of enjoyment or suffering — 1828
•
(no longer used) A beginning.
- Doubting sad end of principle unsound. — 1596

verb1

•
To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet or rule of conduct.
- Let an enthusiast be principled that he or his teacher is inspired. — 1689

forms

principled · principling · principles

Phrases with principle

dormitive principle
A type of tautology in which an item is explained in terms of the item itself, only put in different (usually more abstract) words.

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