principal 
In this war us principal*, when we ought to 
hare meted only an auxiliaries. 
Swift, Conduct of the Allies. 
I thought you might l>e the young principal ol a flrst- 
rate Brm. George Kliot, Daniel Deronda, xxxiil. 
2. A governor or presiding officer; one who is 
chief in authority. Specifically, the head of an insti- 
tution of learning : a title used (a) In colleges or unlversi- 
ties In .Scotland, Canada, and other parts of the British em- 
pire; (b) In certain colleges (KraiMiiosv, Jesus, etc.) and 
nails at Oxford; (c) In the public and In many private 
secondary schools in the United States; (rf) in certain 
higher Institutions of learning in the British empire. 
3. Ill law : (a) A person who, being sui juris, 
and competent to do an act on his own account, 
employs another person to do it; the person 
from whom an agent's authority is derived. 
Compare master^, 2. 
The agent simply undertakes to execute a commission 
In the market ; in that market he acts as though he were 
\\u-iiriiifiiail. Nineteenth Century, XXVI. 845. 
(6) A person for whom another becomes surety ; 
one who is liable for a debt in the first instance, 
(c) In testamentary and administration law, 
the corpus or capital of the estate, in contradis- 
tinction to the income. Thus, under a gift of the In- 
come of stock to A for life, and on A's death the stock to 
B, It is often a contested question whether a stock divi- 
dend, as distinguished from a money dividend, is income 
or principal, (</) l u criminal law, the actor in the 
commission of a crime ; a person concerned in 
the commission of a crime, whether he directly 
commits the act constituting the offense or in- 
stigates or aids and abets in its commission. 
A principal in the first degree is the absolute perpetrator 
of the act which constitutes the crime, whether he does it 
with his own hand or by the hand of an innocent third 
person, the third person being ignorant of the character 
of the act perpetrated. A principal in the second degree is 
a person who, without actually participating in the act 
itself, is present, aiding and encouraging the person who 
commits the act. See accessory. 
And before the coroner of Coventre, up on the sygth of 
the bodyes. ther ben endited, as prynttipall for the deth of 
Richard .Stafford, Syr Robert Harcoiirt and the ij. men 
that ben dede. Paston Letters, I. 74. 
By the Common Lawe, the accessoryes cannot be pro- 
ceeded agaynst till the principo.il receave his tryall. 
Spenter, State of Ireland. 
4 In coin., money bearing interest; a capi- 
tal sum lent on interest, due as a debt or used 
as a fund: so called in distinction to interest or 
profits. 
Shall I not have barely my principal' 
Shalt., II. of V., iv. 1. 342. 
5. In organ-budding, a stop of the open diapa- 
son group, usually giving tones an octave above 
the pitch of the digitals used, like the octave. 
Huch a stop is commonly the one in which the tempera- 
ment Is first set In tuning, and from which other stops are 
tuned. In Germany the open diapason is called 1\\c prin- 
cipal, and the octave Is called the octave principal. 
6. A musical instrument used in old orchestral 
music, especially that of Handel a variety 
of trumpet, probably having a larger tube than 
the ordinary tromba. 7. In mitxic: (a) The 
subject of a fugue : opposed to answer, (b) A 
soloist or other leading performer. 8. Same 
as principal rafter. See rafter. 
Our lodgings . . . shook as the earth did quake ; 
The very principals did seem to rend. 
And all to topple. Shale., Pericles, ill. '. 16. 
Thirty principal*, made of great masts, being forty feet 
In length apiece, standing upright. 
Stoic (Arber's Eng. Oanier, I. 477X 
9. In the fine arts, the chief motive in a work 
of art, to which the rest are to be subordinate ; 
also, an original painting or other work of art. 
Another pretty piece of painting I saw, on which there 
was a great wager laid by young Pfnkney and me whether 
It was a principal or a copy. Pepyt, Diary, May 19, 1660. 
10. One of the turrets or pinnacles of wax- 
work and tapers with which the posts and cen- 
ter of a hearse were formerly crowned. Oxford 
Glusttary. 
From these uprights I of a hearse of lights!, technically 
called principal*, as well as from the ribs which spanned 
the top and kept the whole together, sprouted out hun- 
dreds of gilt metal branches for wax tapers. 
Rock, Church of our Fathers, li. 406. 
lit. An important personal belonging; an 
heirloom. 
And also that my best hone shall be my principal [to be 
led at the funeral], without any armour or man armed, ac- 
cording to the custom of mean people. 
Tat. Vettat., p. ;:,. (HaUiuell.) 
In the district of Archenfleld, near the Welsh border, the 
house and lands were divided between the sons on their 
father's death, but certain principal* passed to the eldest 
as heirlooms, such as the beat table and bed. 
KH--HI-. /int., XIX. 7S3. 
12f. In nniitli.. one of the primaries. 
A bird whose principal* be scarce grown out. 
Spenier, Eplst to Malster Harvey. 
4730 
principality (prin-si-pal'i-ti), n.; pi. principal- 
ities (-tiz). (X ME. jiriiicipalite, < OF.princi- 
l>nlit, also principautd, F. principaute = 8p. 
principalidad = Pg. principalidade = It. princi- 
palita, < L. principafita( t-)s, the first place, pre- 
eminence, \principalis, first, chief: see princi- 
pal.] If. The state or condition of being prin- 
cipal or superior; priority or privilege; prerog- 
ative; predominance; preeminence. 
In hevyn thow hast a principaliU 
Off worship and honowre. 
Political Poems, etc. (ed. Fumivall), p. 145. 
Charge him to go with her thro' all the courts of Oreece, 
and with the challenge now made to give her beauty the 
principality over all other. Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, i. 
Moistenesse in aire houldes principality, 
And heat is secundarle quality. 
Time* Wlii'tl, (E. E. T. 8.), p. 117. 
If any mystery, rite, or sacrament be effective of any 
spiritual blessings, then this is much more, as having the 
prerogative and illustrious principality above everything 
else. Jer. Taylor, Worthy Communicant, I. | 8. 
2. The authority of a prince ; sovereignty; su- 
preme power. 
Nothing was given to King Henry . . . but only the bare 
name of a king ; for all other absolute power of principal- 
itye he had in himselfe before derived from many former 
kings. Spenser, State of Ireland. 
The Bishops of Rome and Alexandria, who beyond their 
l*riestly bounds now long agoe had slept into principal it if. 
Milton, Reformation In Eng., ii. 
3. The territory of a prince, or the country 
which gives title to a prince : as, the princi- 
pality of Wales; the principality of Montene- 
gro. 
The principality is composed of two countries, Neucha- 
tel and Valengin. J. Adams, Works, IV. 374. 
The isle of Elba is given him [Napoleon] as hispn/k-i- 
pality, with an annual revenue of two million francs, 
chargeable to France. 
Woolsey, Introd. to Inter. Law, App. it, p. 410. 
The Danubian Principalities took their destiny into 
their own hands. Fortnightly Itev., N. S., XXXIX. 148. 
4. A prince ; one invested with sovereignty. 
Let her be a principality 
Sovereign to all the creatures on the earth. 
Shale., T. O. of V., ii. 4. 152. 
5. pi. An order of angels. It was the seventh 
order in the celestial hierarchy of Dionysius. 
See hierarchy. 
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against 
principalities, against powers, . . . against spiritual wick- 
edness in high places. I. ph. vl. 12. 
In the assembly next upstood 
Nisroch, of principalitiex the prime. 
Milton, I'. L., vl. 447. 
Danubian principalities. See Danubian. 
principally (pnn'si-pal-i), a<lc. In the princi- 
pal or chief place ; above all ; chiefly : as, he 
was ]>rinci]>ally concerned about this. 
Whereof the Aiiueednct made by the Emperour Valen- 
tinian, and retaining his name, doth principally challeng 
remembrance. Sandys, Travailes, p. 20. 
They wholly mistake the nature of criticism who think 
its business is principally to find fault. /),.,.;.,, 
principalness (prin'si-pal-nes), ;i. The state 
of being principal or chief. 
principalship (prin'si-pal-ship), n. [< princi- 
pal + -ship.] The position or office of a prin- 
cipal. 
principate (prin'si-pat), n. [= OF. principc, 
princie, F. principal = Pr. principal = 8p. Pg. 
principado = It.principalo, < Li.principatus, the 
first place, preeminence, < princeps (-dp-), first, 
chief: see prince.'] 1. The first or supreme 
place; primacy. 
They proudely denye that the Romanc churche obteyn- 
eth the principate and preeminent autorltie of all other. 
/(. Eden, tr. of Paolo Olovlo (First Books on America, ed. 
I Arber, p. 815). 
Of these words the sense is plain and obvious, that It be 
understood that under two metaphors the pnncipatc of 
the whole church was promised. 
Barrotc, Pope's Supremacy. (Latham.) 
2. A principality. 
AH monarchies and best knowen Common weales or 
itrincipatc*. 
Sir II. Gilbert, Queen Ellzahethes AchademyCE. E. T. 8.), 
[extra ser., VIII. L a. 
The Llukln |>. r., Loochoo Islands] . . . constituted until 
lately a separate principate or Han. 
J. J. Krin, Japan, p. 7. 
3t. Same as principality, 5. 
Which are called of Saint Paule principate* and powers, 
lordes of the world. foxe. Martyrs, p. 1609, an. 1555. 
principes, . Plural otprinccps. 
principia (prin-sip'i-ft), n. pi. [L., pi. of prin- 
'i/iiiini, abeginning: see principle.'] First prin- 
riplcs; i-li-iin'iits. The word Is most used as the con- 
tracted title of the " Philosophic Vaturalis Prlm-ipla Ma- 
thematlca" of Newton : It Is also used In the titles of ele- 
mentary books, as " Principia Latlna," etc. 
principle 
principial (prin-sip'i-al), a. [< L. principialis, 
that is from the beginning, < principium, a be- 
ginning: see principle."] Elementary; initial. 
Bacon. 
principiant (prin-sip'i-ant), a. and n. [< LL. 
)irincipian(t-)s, ppr. of ' principiare , begin to 
speak, begin, < L. principium, beginning: see 
principle.] I. a. Relating to principles or be- 
ginnings. 
Certain and known Idolatry, or any other sort of practi- 
cal impiety with Its principiant doctrine, may be punished 
corporally. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. Iis3a\ II. 875. 
II. H. A beginner; a tyro. 
Do you think that I have not wit to distinguish a prin- 
cipiant In vice from a graduate? 
Shirley, Orateful Servant, iii. 4. 
principiate (priu-sip'i-at), r. I.; pret. and pp. 
principiated, ppr. principiating. [< LL.princi- 
piatus, pp. of principiare , begin to speak, begin, 
< principium, beginning: see principle."] To 
begin ; set in motion ; initiate. 
It Imports the things or effects principiated or effected 
by the intelligent active principle. 
Sir M. Hale, Orlg. of Mankind. 
principiatet (prin-sip'i-at), a. [< LL. principi- 
atus, pp. : see the verb.] Primitive; original. 
Our eyes, that see other things, see not themselves ; and 
those principiate foundations of knowledge are themselves 
unknown. (jlanville, Vanity of Dogmatizing, iv. 
principiation (prin-sip-i-a'shon), n. [< princip- 
iate + -ion."] Analysis; reduction to constit- 
uent or elemental parts. 
The separating of any metal into his original, or materia 
prlma, or element, or call them what you will ; which work 
we will call principiation. Bacon, Physiological Remains. 
principium (prin-sip'i-um), .; pi. principiii 
(-a). [L., beginning: see principle.] One of 
four solemn argumentations formerly held by 
ever}' sententiary bachelor in theology, one 
upon each of the four books of Peter Lom- 
bard's "Sentences." 
principle (prin'si-pl), . [With unorig. I (as 
also in participle, syllable), < OF. (and F.) prin- 
cifie = Sp. Pg. It. priiicipio, < L. principium, a 
beginning, (. princeps (-cip-), first : see prince."] 
It. Beginning; commencement. 
He gan to burne in rage, and friese in feare, 
Doubting sad end of principle unsound. 
Spenser, K. Q., V. xl. 2. 
2. Cause, in the widest sense ; that by which 
anything is in any way ultimately determined 
or regulated. 
The Stoics could not but think that the fiery principle 
would wear out all the rest, and at last make an end of the 
world. Sir T. Brmrne, To a Friend. 
What deep Joy fills the mind of the philosopher when, 
throughout apparently inextricable confusion, he can trace 
some great I'nnciple that governs all events, and that they 
all show forth. Cltanninu, Perfect Life, p. 109. 
Without entering on the various meanings of the term 
Principle, which Aristotle defines, in general, that from 
whence anything exists, is produced, or is known. It Is suf- 
ficient to say that it is always used for that on which some- 
thing else depends : and thus lioth for an original law and 
for an original element. In the former case It Is a regula- 
tive, In the latter a constitutive, principle. 
Sir W. Hamilton, Reid, Note A, 8 S, Supplementary 
[Dissertations. 
It is only by a very careful observation . . . that we are 
able from the singular and concrete operations to enuncl* 
ate precisely the general law which is the expression of 
the regulative principle. McCosh, Locke's Theory, p. 5. 
3. An original faculty or endowment of the 
mind: as, the principle of observation and com- 
parison. 
Under this title are comprehended all those active prin- 
ciple* whose direct and ultimate object is the communica- 
tion either of enjoyment or of suffering to any of our fel- 
low-creatures. D. Stewart, Moral Powers. 1. 3, f 1. 
Active Impulse comes under the dominion of the princi- 
ple of habit J. Sully, Outlines of Psychol., p. :.-:.. 
4. A truth which is evident and general ; a truth 
comprehending many subordinate truths ; a law 
on which others are founded, or from which oth- 
ers are derived: as, the principles of morality, 
of equity, of government, etc. In mathematical 
physics a principle commonly means a very 
widely useful theorem. 
Row doth Aristotle define principle*? In this manner: 
principle* be true propositions, having credit of them- 
selves, and need no other proofs. 
ttlniulfriUf, Logic (161(1), vl. 18. 
Doctrines . . . laid down for foundations of any science 
. . . [are] called principle*. 
Locke, Human t'nderstanding, IV. ill. 1. 
When a man attempts to combat the jm'iui'jifrof utility, 
It Is with reasons drawn, without his lielng aware "f It, 
from that very principle Itself. 
Brntham, Introd. to Morals and Legislation, I. IX 
Many traces of thin ancient theory [regarding the Eng- 
lish common law aa existing somewhcn- in tin- form of a 
symmetrical Imdy of < xprcss rules, adjusted In >li -Unite 
princiiile*\ remain in the language of our judgment* and 
forensic arguments, and among them we may |>erliaps 
