Kilo Lingo

/ˈprɪnsəpl/

Line drawing of principle
Coloured illustration of principle
#2426 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

A basic rule or belief about what is right, which guides what you do.

Word origin

From Latin principium, meaning beginning or foundation, from princeps, the first person.

Origin
Latin
Root
principium
English cognates
prince, principal

Grammar

Gender
Pluralprinciples

Examples

Honesty .

A "principle" is a rule you believe in and try to follow.

.

"On principle" or "a matter of principle" means because of your beliefs, not the situation.

.

A "principle" can also be the basic idea behind how something works.

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 49.