n.

1. A basic truth, law, or assumption: the principles of democracy.
2. 1. A rule or standard, especially of good behavior: a man of principle.
   2. The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments: a decision based on principle rather than expediency.
3. A fixed or predetermined policy or mode of action.
4. A basic or essential quality or element determining intrinsic nature or characteristic behavior: the principle of self-preservation.
5. A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena or mechanical processes: the principle of jet propulsion.
6. Chemistry. One of the elements that compose a substance, especially one that gives some special quality or effect.
7. A basic source. See Usage Note at principal.

idioms:

in principle

1. With regard to the basics: an idea that is acceptable in principle.

on principle

1. According to or because of principle.

[Middle English, alteration of Old French principe, from Latin prīncipium, from prīnceps, prīncip-, leader, emperor.]

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Rule or general standard adhered to in most areas of human conduct. A principle can be an ethical declaration, as in ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'

noun

1. A broad and basic rule or truth: axiom, fundamental, law, theorem, universal. See order/disorder.
2. Moral or ethical strength: character, fiber, honesty, integrity. See strong/weak.

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

A fundamental, well-settled rule of law. A basic truth or undisputed legal doctrine; a given legal proposition that is clear and does not need to be proved.

A principle provides a foundation for the development of other laws and regulations.

1. a chemical component.
2. a substance on which certain of the properties of a drug depend.
3. a law of conduct.

• active p. — any constituent of a drug that helps to confer upon it a medicinal property.
• reasonable person p. — the basis for many decisions in cases alleging negligence. The court bases its judgment on what it considers a reasonable person, a reasonable veterinarian in our context, would have done in the circumstances. This is the evidence that most expert witnesses are asked to give, evidence about what should be expected of a member of their profession in terms of quality of performance. Called also principle of the reasonable person.

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IN BRIEF: A rule used in deciding how to behave.

At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love. — Martin Luther King Jr (1929-1968)

Tutor's tip: A good principal (one who runs a school) should share good principles (rules for deciding how to behave) with the students.

Quotes:

"Success is the ability to rise above principle." - Gerald Barzan

"In any assembly the simplest way to stop transacting business and split the ranks is to appeal to a principal." - Jacques Barzun

"Expedients are for the hour, but principles are for the ages." - Henry Ward Beecher

"To abandon oneself to principles is really to die -- and to die for an impossible love which is the contrary of love." - Albert Camus

"The principles which men give to themselves end by overwhelming their noblest intentions." - Albert Camus

"You can't live principals you can't understand." - Stephen R. Covey

See more famous quotes about Principles

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Common misspelling(s) of principle

• priciple

Dansk (Danish)
n. - princip, grundsætning, lov

idioms:

• in principle    i princippet
• on principle    af princip

Nederlands (Dutch)
principe, beginsel, stelregel

Français (French)
n. - principe

idioms:

• in principle    en principe
• on principle    par principe

Deutsch (German)
n. - Prinzip, Regel, Komponente

idioms:

• in principle    im Prinzip
• on principle    grundsätzlich

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ηθική) αρχή, ήθος, βασική αρχή

idioms:

• in principle    κατ' αρχήν, γενικά
• on principle    εκ πεποιθήσεως, λόγω (ηθικών) αρχών

Italiano (Italian)
principio

idioms:

• in principle    in principio
• on principle    per principio

Português (Portuguese)
n. - princípio (m)

idioms:

• in principle    em princípio
• on principle    por princípio

Русский (Russian)
принцип

idioms:

• in principle    в принципе
• on principle    ради принципа

Español (Spanish)
n. - principio, máxima, principio básico

idioms:

• in principle    en principio
• on principle    por principio, por motivos fundamentales

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - princip, grund(sats), (huvud)beståndsdel

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
原则, 主义, 原理, 信条

idioms:

• in principle    原则上
• on principle    根据原则

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 原則, 主義, 原理, 信條

idioms:

• in principle    原則上
• on principle    根據原則

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 원리, 원칙

idioms:

• in principle    원칙적으로

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 原理, 律, 主義, 道義, 本源, 本質, 生来の傾向, 信条

idioms:

• in principle    原則として, だいたいのところ
• on principle    主義として

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) مبدأ, قاعدة, معتقد, أصل, مصدر, منشأ‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮עיקרון, פרינציפ, חוק‬

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