18 results for: principal

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
prin·ci·pal    Audio Help   [prin-suh-puhl] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.first or highest in rank, importance, value, etc.; chief; foremost.
2.of, of the nature of, or constituting principal or capital: a principal investment.
3.Geometry. (of an axis of a conic) passing through the foci.
–noun
4.a chief or head.
5.the head or director of a school or, esp. in England, a college.
6.a person who takes a leading part in any activity, as a play; chief actor or doer.
7.the first player of a division of instruments in an orchestra (excepting the leader of the first violins).
8.something of principal or chief importance.
9.Law.
a.a person who authorizes another, as an agent, to represent him or her.
b.a person directly responsible for a crime, either as an actual perpetrator or as an abettor present at its commission. Compare accessory (def. 3).
10.a person primarily liable for an obligation, in contrast with an endorser, or the like.
11.the main body of an estate, or the like, as distinguished from income.
12.Finance. a capital sum, as distinguished from interest or profit.
13.Music.
a.an organ stop.
b.the subject of a fugue.
14.(in a framed structure) a member, as a truss, upon which adjacent or similar members depend for support or reinforcement.
15.each of the combatants in a duel, as distinguished from the seconds.

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME < L prīncipālis first, chief, equiv. to prīncip- (see prince) + -ālis -al1]

prin·ci·pal·ship, noun

1. prime, paramount, leading, main, cardinal, preeminent. See capital1. 4. leader. 5. headmaster, dean, master.
1. secondary, ancillary.
The noun principle and the noun and adjective principal are often confused. Although pronounced alike, the words are not interchangeable in writing. A principle is broadly “a rule of action or conduct” (His overriding principle is greed) or “a fundamental doctrine or tenet” (Their principles do not permit the use of alcoholic beverages). The adjective principal has the general sense “chief, first, foremost”: My principal objection is the cost of the project. The noun principal has among other meanings “the head or director of a school” (The faculty supported the principal in her negotiations with the board) and “a capital sum, as distinguished from interest or profit” (The monthly payments go mostly for interest, leaving the principal practically untouched).
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
principal

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
prin·ci·pal    Audio Help   (prĭn'sə-pəl)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. First, highest, or foremost in importance, rank, worth, or degree; chief. See Synonyms at chief.
  2. Of, relating to, or being financial principal, or a principal in a financial transaction.

n.  
  1. One who holds a position of presiding rank, especially the head of an elementary school or high school.
  2. A main participant in a situation.
  3. A person having a leading or starring role.
    1. The capital or main body of an estate or financial holding as distinguished from the interest or revenue from it.
    2. A sum of money owed as a debt, upon which interest is calculated.
    3. A person who empowers another to act as his or her representative.
    4. The person having prime responsibility for an obligation as distinguished from one who acts as surety or as an endorser.
    5. One who commits or is an accomplice to a crime.
  4. Law
    1. A person who empowers another to act as his or her representative.
    2. The person having prime responsibility for an obligation as distinguished from one who acts as surety or as an endorser.
    3. One who commits or is an accomplice to a crime.
  5. Architecture Either of a pair of inclined timbers forming the sides of a triangular truss for a pitched roof.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin prīncipālis, from prīnceps, prīncip-, leader, emperor; see per1 in Indo-European roots.]

prin'ci·pal·ly adv., prin'ci·pal·ship' n.
Usage Note: Principal and principle are often confused but have no meanings in common. Principle is only a noun and usually refers to a rule or standard. Principal is both a noun and an adjective. As a noun, it has specialized meanings in law and finance, but in general usage it refers to a person who holds a high position or plays an important role: a meeting among all the principals in the transaction. As an adjective it has the sense of "chief" or "leading": The coach's principal concern is the quarterback's health.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
principal  (adj.)
c.1290, from O.Fr. principal (11c.), from L. principalis "first in importance," from princeps (see prince). The noun is c.1300 in the sense of "ruler;" c.1340 in the sense of "money on which interest is paid;" 1827 as "person in charge of a public school," though meaning "head of a college or hall" was in England from 1438, and the basic sense of "chief, commander, ruler" is recorded from 1388. Principally "in the first place, mainly" is from 1340.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
principal

adjective
1. most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch" [syn: chief

noun
1. the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated 
2. the educator who has executive authority for a school; "she sent unruly pupils to see the principal" 
3. an actor who plays a principal role [syn: star
4. capital as contrasted with the income derived from it 
5. (criminal law) any person involved in a criminal offense, regardless of whether the person profits from such involvement 
6. the major party to a financial transaction at a stock exchange; buys and sells for his own account 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
principal [ˈprinsəpəl] adjective
most important
Example: Shipbuilding was one of Britain's principal industries.
Arabic: رَئيسي
Chinese (Simplified): 最重要的
Chinese (Traditional): 最重要的
Czech: hlavní
Danish: vigtig; hoved-
Dutch: voornaamste
Estonian: tähtsaim
Finnish: merkittävin
French: principal
German: hauptsächlich
Greek: κυριότερος
Hungarian:
Icelandic: megin-
Indonesian: terpenting
Italian: principale
Japanese: 主要な
Korean: 가장 중요한
Latvian: galvenais; svarīgākais
Lithuanian: pagrindinis, svarbiausias
Norwegian: hoved-, viktigst
Polish: główny
Portuguese (Brazil): principal
Portuguese (Portugal): principal
Romanian: principal
Russian: главный
Slovak: hlavný
Slovenian: glaven
Spanish: principal
Swedish: huvudsaklig, viktigast
Turkish: temel
principal1 [ˈprinsəpəl] noun
the head of a school, college or university
Arabic: مُدير المَدْرَسَه أو رَئيس الكُليَّه
Chinese (Simplified): 校长
Chinese (Traditional): 校長
Czech: ředitel, -ka
Danish: inspektør; rektor
Dutch: directeur, rector
Estonian: direktor, rektor
Finnish: rehtori
French: directeur, *-trice
German: der, *die Direktor(in)
Greek: διευθυντής
Hungarian: igazgató
Icelandic: skólastjóri
Indonesian: kepala sekolah
Italian: direttore, direttrice, preside
Japanese: 校長
Korean: 교장, 학장
Latvian: rektors; direktors
Lithuanian: direktorius
Norwegian: rektor, skolestyrer
Polish: dyrektor szkoły
Portuguese (Brazil): diretor
Portuguese (Portugal): reitor
Romanian: director; rector; decan
Russian: директор школы, *колледжа; ректор университета
Slovak: riaditeľ, -ka
Slovenian: predstojnik, ravnatelj, rektor
Spanish: director
Swedish: rektor
Turkish: müdür
principal2 [ˈprinsəpəl] noun
a leading actor, singer or dancer in a theatrical production
Arabic: المُمَثِّل او الرّاقِص الرَّئيسي
Chinese (Simplified): 主要演员
Chinese (Traditional): 主要演員
Czech: hlavní herec, zpěvák, tanečník
Danish: hovedkraft
Dutch: hoofdrolspeler
Estonian: esinäitleja, esilaulja, esitantsija
Finnish: pääosan esittäjä
French: premier rôle
German: die Hauptperson
Greek: πρωταγωνιστής
Hungarian: főszereplő
Icelandic: aðalleikari, *-dansari, *-söngvari
Indonesian: pemeran utama
Italian: primo attore*
Japanese: 主役
Korean: 주역, 주연자
Latvian: vadošais aktieris, *dziedātājs, *dejotājs
Lithuanian: pagrindinio vaidmens atlikėjas
Norwegian: hovedrolleinnehaver
Polish: odtwórca głównej roli, *partii
Portuguese (Brazil): protagonista
Portuguese (Portugal): actor principal
Romanian: rol principal
Russian: ведущий исполнитель
Slovak: hlavný herec, spevák, tanečník
Slovenian: glavna vloga
Spanish: protagonista
Swedish: solist, huvudperson
Turkish: baş oyuncu
principal3 [ˈprinsəpəl] noun
the amount of money in a bank etc on which interest is paid
Arabic: مَبلَغ المال في المَصرِف
Chinese (Simplified): 本金,资本
Chinese (Traditional): 本金,資本
Czech: jistina
Danish: hovedstol
Dutch: kapitaal
Estonian: kapital
Finnish: pääoma
French: capital
German: das Kapital
Greek: αρχικό κεφάλαιο επένδυσης
Hungarian: tőke
Icelandic: höfuðstóll
Indonesian: modal
Italian: capitale
Japanese: 元金
Korean: 원금(元金)
Latvian: pamatkapitāls
Lithuanian: pagrindinė suma
Norwegian: kapital
Polish: kapitał
Portuguese (Brazil): capital
Portuguese (Portugal): capital
Romanian: capital
Russian: капитал
Slovak: istina, kapitál
Slovenian: glavnica
Spanish: capital
Swedish: kapital
Turkish: ana para
See also: principally

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version), © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
principal

The original amount of money lent, not including profits and interest.


[Chapter:] Business and Economics


The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Investopedia - Cite This Source - Share This

Principal

1. The amount borrowed or the amount still owed on a loan, separate from interest.

2. The original amount invested, separate from earnings.

3. The face value of a bond.

4. The owner of a private company.

5. The main party to a transaction, acting as either a buyer or seller for his/her own account and risk.

Investopedia Commentary

Be sure to take into account the context in which this term is used, as the exact meaning of the term has many variations.

Can also be referred to as "corpus."

Related Links

Bond Basics Tutorial
Principal-Protected Funds - Security Has a Price

See also: Agent, Bond, Broker-Dealer, Dealer, Face Value

Also spelled: principle

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
Wallstreet Words - Cite This Source - Share This

principal

  1. The face amount of a bond. Once a bond has been issued, it may sell at more or less than its principal amount, depending upon changes in interest rates and the riskiness of the security. At maturity, however, the bond will be redeemed for its principal amount. Also called principal amount.
  2. Funds put up by an investor.
  3. The person who owns or takes delivery of an asset in a trade. For example, an investor is the principal for whom a broker executes a trade.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: principal
Function: noun
1 : a participant in an action or transaction esp. having control or authority <the principals of a business>: as a : one who engages another to act for him or her subject to his or her general control or instruction : one from whom an agent derives authority to act —compare FIDUCIARY b : one who commits a crime or instigates, encourages, or assists another to commit it esp. when constructively or actually present —see also ACCESSORY 1


principal in the first degree
: a principal under common law who intentionally commits and is actually or constructively present at the commission of a crime
principal in the second degree
: a principal under common law who aids, encourages, or commands another to commit a crime and is actually or constructively present when it is committed c : the person primarily liable on a legal obligation or one who will ultimately bear the burden because of a duty to indemnify another as distinguished from one (as an endorser, surety, or guarantor) who is secondarily liable
2 : a capital sum earning interest, due as a debt, or used as a fund <shall receive the income from the trust until age 18, and thereafter the principal> <payments shall be applied first to interest and then to principal>; also : the main body of an estate, devise, or bequest

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: prin·ci·pal
Pronunciation: 'prin-s&-p&l
Function: adjective
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 loan>

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Principal

Fo"cus\, n.; pl. E. Focuses, L. Foci. [L. focus hearth, fireplace; perh. akin to E. bake. Cf. Curfew, Fuel, Fusil the firearm.]

1. (Opt.) A point in which the rays of light meet, after being reflected or refrcted, and at which the image is formed; as, the focus of a lens or mirror.

2. (Geom.) A point so related to a conic section and certain straight line called the directrix that the ratio of the distace between any point of the curve and the focus to the distance of the same point from the directrix is constant.

Note: Thus, in the ellipse FGHKLM, A is the focus and CD the directrix, when the ratios FA:FE, GA:GD, MA:MC, etc., are all equal. So in the hyperbola, A is the focus and CD the directrix when the ratio HA:HK is constant for all points of the curve; and in the parabola, A is the focus and CD the directrix when the ratio BA:BC is constant. In the ellipse this ratio is less than unity, in the parabola equal to unity, and in the hyperbola greater than unity. The ellipse and hyperbola have each two foci, and two corresponding directrixes, and the parabola has one focus and one directrix. In the ellipse the sum of the two lines from any point of the curve to the two foci is constant; that is: AG+GB=AH+HB; and in the hyperbola the difference of the corresponding lines is constant. The diameter which passes through the foci of the ellipse is the major axis. The diameter which being produced passes through the foci of the hyperbola is the transverse axis. The middle point of the major or the transverse axis is the center of the curve. Certain other curves, as the lemniscate and the Cartesian ovals, have points called foci, possessing properties similar to those of the foci of conic sections. In an ellipse, rays of light coming from one focus, and reflected from the curve, proceed in lines directed toward the other; in an hyperbola, in lines directed from the other; in a parabola, rays from the focus, after reflection at the curve, proceed in lines parallel to the axis. Thus rays from A in the ellipse are reflected to B; rays from A in the hyperbola are reflected toward L and M away from B.

3. A central point; a point of concentration.

Aplanatic focus. (Opt.) See under Aplanatic.

Conjugate focus (Opt.), the focus for rays which have a sensible divergence, as from a near object; -- so called because the positions of the object and its image are interchangeable.

Focus tube (Phys.), a vacuum tube for R[oe]ntgen rays in which the cathode rays are focused upon the anticathode, for intensifying the effect.

Principal, or Solar, focus (Opt.), the focus for parallel rays.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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 principal productions of a country; the principal arguments in a case.

Wisdom is the principal thing. --Prov. iv. 7.

2. Of or pertaining to a prince; princely. [A Latinism] [Obs.] --Spenser.

Principal axis. See Axis of a curve, under Axis.

Principal axes of a quadric (Geom.), three lines in which the principal planes of the solid intersect two and two, as in an ellipsoid.

Principal challenge. (Law) See under Challenge.

Principal plane. See Plane of projection (a), under Plane.

Principal of a quadric (Geom.), three planes each of which is at right angles to the other two, and bisects all chords of the quadric perpendicular to the plane, as in an ellipsoid.

Principal point (Persp.), the projection of the point of sight upon the plane of projection.

Principal ray (Persp.), the line drawn through the point of sight perpendicular to the perspective plane.

Principal section (Crystallog.), a plane passing through the optical axis of a crystal.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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, auxiliary, or assistant.

2. Hence: (Law) (a) The chief actor in a crime, or an abettor who is present at it, -- as distinguished from an accessory. (b) A chief obligor, promisor, or debtor, -- as distinguished from a surety. (c) One who employs another to act for him, -- as distinguished from an agent. --Wharton. --Bouvier. --Burrill.

3. A thing of chief or prime importance; something fundamental or especially conspicuous. Specifically: (a) (Com.) A capital sum of money, placed out at interest, due as a debt or used as a fund; -- so called in distinction from interest or profit. (b) (Arch. & Engin.) The construction which gives shape and strength to a roof, -- generally a truss of timber or iron, but there are roofs with stone principals. Also, loosely, the most important member of a piece of framing. (c) (Mus.) In English organs the chief open metallic stop, an octave above the open diapason. On the manual it is four feet long, on the pedal eight feet. In Germany this term corresponds to the English open diapason. (d) (O. Eng. Law) A heirloom; a mortuary. --Cowell. (e) pl. The first two long feathers of a hawk's wing. --Spenser. --J. H. Walsh. (f) One of turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and center of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned. --Oxf. Gloss. (g) A principal or essential point or rule; a principle. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Principal

Prin`ci*pal"i*ty\, n.; pl. Principalities. [L. principalitas pre["e]minence, excellence: cf. F. principalit['e], principaut['e]. See Principal.]

1. Sovereignty; supreme power; hence, superiority; predominance; high, or the highest, station. --Sir P. Sidney.

Your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory. --Jer. xiii. 18.

The prerogative and principality above everything else. --Jer. Taylor.

2. A prince; one invested with sovereignty. "Next upstood Nisroch, of principalities the prime." --Milton.

3. The territory or jurisdiction of a prince; or the country which gives title to a prince; as, the principality of Wales.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

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