principle
A fundamental assumption, fundamental law or guiding belief.
Noun 4 meanings
A fundamental assumption, fundamental law or guiding belief.
“We need some sort of principles to reason from.”
A rule used to choose among solutions to a problem.
“The principle of least privilege holds that a process should only receive the permissions it needs.”
Moral rule or aspect.
“I don't doubt your principles.”
A rule or law of nature, or the basic idea on how the laws of nature are applied.
“Bernoulli's principle”
Verb 1 meaning
To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet or rule of conduct.
Etymology
From Middle English principle, from Old French principe, from Latin prīncipium (“beginning, foundation”), from prīnceps (“first”). By surface analysis, prīmus (“first”) + -ceps (“catcher”); the former ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- (“before”); see also prince.
Similar and opposite words
PRINCIPLE at a glance
PRINCIPLE has 9 letters and scores 15 points in Scrabble (P 3 + R 1 + I 1 + N 1 + C 3 + I 1 + P 3 + L 1 + E 1) and 20 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #3,959 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with principle
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