Principle word meaning and definition

[noun] an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature); "the rationale for capital punishment"; "the principles of internal-combustion engines"
[noun] a basic truth or law or assumption; "the principles of democracy"
[noun] a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system; "the principle of the conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion"; "the right-hand rule for inductive fields"
[noun] a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct; "their principles of composition characterized all their works"
[noun] a rule or standard especially of good behavior; "a man of principle"; "he will not violate his principles"
[noun] rule of personal conduct

\Prin"ci*ple\, n. [F. principe, L. principium beginning, foundation, fr. princeps, -cipis. See {Prince}.] 1. Beginning; commencement. [Obs.] Doubting sad end of principle unsound. --Spenser. 2. A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause. The soul of man is an active principle. --Tillotson. 3. An original faculty or endowment. Nature in your principles hath set [benignity]. --Chaucer. Those active principles whose direct and ultimate object is the communication either of enjoyment or suffering. --Stewart. 4. A fundamental truth; a comprehensive law or doctrine, from which others are derived, or on which others are founded; a general truth; an elementary proposition; a maxim; an axiom; a postulate. Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection. --Heb. vi. 1. A good principle, not rightly understood, may prove as hurtful as a bad. --Milton. 5. A settled rule of action; a governing law of conduct; an opinion or belief which exercises a directing influence on the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of conduct consistently directing one's actions; as, a person of no principle. All kinds of dishonesty destroy our pretenses to an honest principle of mind. --Law. 6. (Chem.) Any original inherent constituent which characterizes a substance, or gives it its essential properties, and which can usually be separated by analysis; -- applied especially to drugs, plant extracts, etc. Cathartine is the bitter, purgative principle of senna. --Gregory. {Bitter principle}, {Principle of contradiction}, etc. See under {Bitter}, {Contradiction}, etc.
\Prin"ci*ple\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Principled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Principling}.] To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct, good or ill. Governors should be well principled. --L'Estrange. Let an enthusiast be principled that he or his teacher is inspired. --Locke.

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