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Definitions for: Principle
[n] an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature); "the rationale for capital punishment"; "the principles of internal-combustion engines"
[n] a basic truth or law or assumption; "the principles of democracy"
[n] a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system; "the principle of the conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion"; "the right-hand rule for inductive fields"
[n] a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct; "their principles of composition characterized all their works"
[n] a rule or standard especially of good behavior; "a man of principle"; "he will not violate his principles"
[n] rule of personal conduct
Webster (1913) Definition: Prin"ci*ple, n. [F. principe, L. principium
beginning, foundation, fr. princeps, -cipis. See Prince.]
1. Beginning; commencement. [Obs.]
Doubting sad end of principle unsound. --Spenser.
2. 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. --Tillotson.
3. An original faculty or endowment.
Nature in your principles hath set [benignity].
--Chaucer.
Those active principles whose direct and ultimate
object is the communication either of enjoyment or
suffering. --Stewart.
4. A fundamental truth; a comprehensive law or doctrine, from
which others are derived, or on which others are founded;
a general truth; an elementary proposition; a maxim; an
axiom; a postulate.
Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of
Christ, let us go on unto perfection. --Heb. vi. 1.
A good principle, not rightly understood, may prove
as hurtful as a bad. --Milton.
5. A settled rule of action; a governing law of conduct; an
opinion or belief which exercises a directing influence on
the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of
conduct consistently directing one's actions; as, a person
of no principle.
All kinds of dishonesty destroy our pretenses to an
honest principle of mind. --Law.
6. (Chem.) Any original inherent constituent which
characterizes a substance, or gives it its essential
properties, and which can usually be separated by
analysis; -- applied especially to drugs, plant extracts,
etc.
Cathartine is the bitter, purgative principle of
senna. --Gregory.
Bitter principle, Principle of contradiction, etc. See
under Bitter, Contradiction, etc.
Prin"ci*ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Principled; p.
pr. & vb. n. Principling.]
To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain
principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct,
good or ill.
Governors should be well principled. --L'Estrange.
Let an enthusiast be principled that he or his teacher
is inspired. --Locke.
Synonyms: precept, rationale, rule
See Also: basic principle, basics, bedrock, caveat emptor, chivalry, conservation, dialectics, dictate, ethic, ethic, ethical code, explanation, fundamental principle, fundamentals, generalisation, generality, generalization, Gresham's Law, Hellenism, higher law, Huygens' principle of superposition, hypothetical imperative, judicial doctrine, judicial principle, law, law of nature, law of parsimony, Le Chatelier principle, Le Chatelier-Braun principle, Le Chatelier's law, Le Chatelier's principle, legal principle, localisation, localisation of function, localisation principle, localization, localization of function, localization principle, logic, mass action, mass-action principle, moral principle, moral principle, Naegele's rule, natural law, Occam's Razor, Ockham's Razor, pillar, pleasure principle, pleasure-pain principle, pleasure-unpleasure principle, prescript, principle of equivalence, principle of liquid displacement, principle of parsimony, principle of superposition, reality principle, rule, scruple, superposition, Tao, value, value orientation, value-system
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