ˈprɪnsəpəl adj. & n. --adj. 1 (usu. attrib.)
first in rank or
importance;
chief (the principal
town of
the district). 2 main, leading (a principal
cause of my success). 3 (of money) constituting the
original sum invested or
lent. --n. 1 a
head,
ruler, or
superior. 2 the head of
some schools, colleges,
and universities. 3 the leading performer in a
concert,
play, etc. 4 a capital sum as
distinguished from interest or
income. 5 a
person for whom another acts as
agent etc. 6 (in the UK) a
civil servant of the
grade below Secretary. 7 the person
actually responsible for a
crime. 8 a person for whom another is
surety. 9
each of the combatants in a
duel. 10 a a main rafter supporting purlins. b a main
girder. 11 an
organ stop sounding an
octave above the
diapason. 12 Mus. the leading
player in each
section of an
orchestra. øprincipal
boy (or girl) an
actress who takes the leading
male (or female)
part in a
pantomime. principal
clause Gram. a clause to
which another clause is
subordinate. principal in the first
degree a person
directly responsible for a crime as
its actual perpetrator. principal in the second degree a person directly responsible for a crime as aiding in its perpetration. principal parts Gram. the parts of a
verb from which
all other parts can be deduced. øøprincipalship n. [ME f. OF f. L principalis first, original (as PRINCE)]
