Etymologically
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principalis

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [priːŋ.kɪˈpaː.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [prin̠ʲ.t͡ʃiˈpaː.lis][1]

Forms

prīncipālis (neuter prīncipāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from prīnceps “first, chief” with the suffix -ālis.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of what is original, primary, as his causae prīncipālēs “primary causes”.[2][4] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant originally existing, primary, as Cicero's first causes, and in Quintilian original, as opposed to figurative.[2][6] From Seneca it meant first in importance, chief, principal, and vir prīncipālis a leading citizen, as in Apuleius.[2] Under the Empire it meant of the prīnceps, imperial, as in Seneca, and princely, as in Pliny.[2] In camps the via prīncipālis was the main cross road and the porta prīncipālis a side gate, as in Livy.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant first, original, perfect.[7] Medieval Latin used it for royal, and of coins up to the ruler's standard, and British Medieval Latin of original sin.[8][9] Through Old French principal it gave English principal about 1300.[10]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses causae prīncipālēs.[2][4][5]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses via prīncipālis.[2][5]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of the chief and of the imperial.[2][5]
  • c. 1300 – English principal is recorded.[10]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Original, primary.[2]
  2. Chief, principal, vir prīncipālis, a leading citizen.[2]
  3. Imperial; princely.[2]
  4. via prīncipālis, the main road of a camp, porta prīncipālis, a side gate.[2]
  5. (Medieval Latin) Royal.[8]

Word family

  • principāle
  • prīncipālitās
  • supprincipalis
  • principāliter

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com