Dictionary Entry
principal
Part of SpeechnounPronunciation/ˈpɹɪnsəpəl/Word FrequencyCommon (5.46)Curriculum FrequencyLess common (1)The money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are calculated.
In a Sentence
“A portion of your mortgage payment goes to reduce the principal, and the rest covers interest.”
Published Usage Examples
“Admitting the truth of this reflection, we might still reply, that the principal merit of the Iliad, considered as the production of Genius, lies in the grandeur of the sentiments, the beauty and sublimity of the illustrations, and the _original_ strokes which are wrought into the description of the _principal Actors_.”
“Remember this, That the ruling, pre - dominant, chief, and principal end in labour - ing for the things of this world, ihould be in in reference to the world to come, Wheft QtrvtA prayed for life, * it was not principal* ly that he mqght live; but that he might live andpraifcQod, Pfal.”
This entry also appears in ReadingWillow Year 11 word lists, so students can move between the dictionary and year-level study sets.
Origin
From Latin principalis ‘first, chief’, via Old French principal.
Common Phrases
Poetry examples for “principal”
Excerpts from the ReadingWillow English Library collection.
Poetry examples are still being gathered for this entry. They will appear here once matching poems are available in the library.
