principalis Latin · revision 7141
16 Oct 2026, 13:18 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la prīnceps}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [priːŋ.kɪˈpaː.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [prin̠ʲ.t͡ʃiˈpaː.lis]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''prīncipālis''' (neuter prīncipāle); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[prīnceps]] “first, chief” with the suffix [[-ālis]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of what is original, primary, as his ''causae prīncipālēs'' “primary causes”.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant originally existing, primary, as Cicero's first causes, and in Quintilian original, as opposed to figurative.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) From Seneca it meant first in importance, chief, principal, and ''vir prīncipālis'' a leading citizen, as in Apuleius.^(OLD 2012) Under the Empire it meant of the ''prīnceps'', imperial, as in Seneca, and princely, as in Pliny.^(OLD 2012) In camps the ''via prīncipālis'' was the main cross road and the ''porta prīncipālis'' a side gate, as in Livy.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant first, original, perfect.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for royal, and of coins up to the ruler's standard, and British Medieval Latin of original sin.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) Through Old French ''principal'' it gave [[en|principal]] about 1300.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''causae prīncipālēs''.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses ''via prīncipālis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of the chief and of the imperial.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 1300 – English ''principal'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Original, primary.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Chief, [[m|en|principal]], ''vir prīncipālis'', a leading citizen.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Imperial; princely.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''via prīncipālis'', the main road of a camp, ''porta prīncipālis'', a side gate.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Royal.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[principāle]]
+ * [[prīncipālitās]]
+ * [[supprincipalis]]
+ * [[principāliter]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[prīnceps]]
+ * [[prīncipium]]
+ * [[en|principal]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}