Webster's English Dictionary

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principle

prin.ci.ple \'prin(t)-s(*-)p*l, -s*-b*l\ n [ME, modif. of MF principe, fr. 
   L principium beginning, fr. prin]cip-, princeps taken as first - more at 
   PRINCE 1a: a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption  
   1b1: a rule or code of conduct  1b2: habitual devotion to right principles  
   1c: the laws or facts of nature underlying the working of an artificial dev 
   ice 2a: a primary source : ORIGIN  2b: an underlying faculty or endowment  
   3: a distinguishable ingredient that exhibits or imparts a characteristic q 
   uality cap, Christian Science  4: a divine principle : GOD