prin|ci|pal

prin|ci|pal «PRIHN suh puhl», adjective, noun.

–adj.

most important; chief; main: »

Chicago is the principal city of Illinois.

SYNONYM(S): cardinal, foremost, prime, leading, prominent.

–n.

1. the chief person; one who gives orders: »

She is one of the principals of the Royal Ballet (Maclean's).

2. a) the head, or one of the heads, of an elementary or secondary school: »

The principal told the teachers to dismiss school during the heavy snowstorm.

b) the head of a college, especially in Great Britain.

3. a sum of money on which interest is paid.

4. money or property from which income interest is received.

5. a person who hires or authorizes another person to act for him: »

Mr. Smith does the business of renting the houses for Mr. Jones, his principal.

6. a person directly responsible for a crime.

7. a person responsible for the payment of a debt that another person has endorsed.

8. Music. an organ stop whose tones are of the same quality as the open diapason but an octave higher.

9. anything of chief importance, such as a main truss or rafter in a building: »

Our lodgings…Shook as the earth did quake; the very principals did seem to rend, and all to topple (Shakespeare).

10. each of the combatants in a duel.

╂[< Old French principal, learned borrowing from Latin prīncipālis first; later, princely (in Late Latin, noun, overseer) < prīnceps chief; see etym. under prince (Cf. ↑prince)]

Usage Principal, principle are often confused in spelling even though they have entirely different meanings. Principal as an adjective means chief (a principal ally) and as a noun, chief person or head (the school principal). Principle is used only as a noun, meaning a basic truth or belief »

(the principles of democracy),

or a rule of conduct »

(Good character depends upon high principles).