- principal
- principal [prin′sə pəl]adj.[OFr < L principalis < princeps: see PRINCE]1. first in rank, authority, importance, degree, etc.2. that is or has to do with PRINCIPAL (n. 3)n.1. a principal person or thing; specif.,a) a chief; headb) a governing or presiding officer, specif. of a schoolc) a main actor or performerd) either of the combatants in a duel2.a) any of the main end rafters of a roof, supporting the purlinsb) a roof truss3. Financea) the amount of a debt, investment, etc. minus the interest, or on which interest is computedb) the face value of a stock or bondc) the main body of an estate, etc., as distinguished from income4. Lawa) a person who employs another to act as his agentb) the person primarily responsible for an obligationc) a person who commits a crime or is present as an abettor to it: cf. ACCESSORY5. Musica) any of the principal open stops of an organb) the soloist in a concertc) the first player of any section of orchestral instruments except the first violinsd) the subject of a fugue: opposed to ANSWERSYN.- CHIEFprincipallyadv.principalshipn.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.