Principal

GRE 蓝宝考研

[编辑] 解释

I. adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin principalis, from princip-, princeps
Date: 14th century
1. most important, consequential, or influential ; chief <the principal ingredient><the region's principal city>
2. of, relating to, or constituting principal or a principal
Usage: see principle
? principally adverb

II. noun

Date: 14th century
1. a person who has controlling authority or is in a leading position: as
- a. a chief or head man or woman
- b. the chief executive officer of an educational institution
- c. one who engages another to act as an agent subject to general control and instruction; specifically the person from whom an agent's authority derives
- d. the chief or an actual participant in a crime
- e. the person primarily or ultimately liable on a legal obligation
- f. a leading performer ; star
2. a matter or thing of primary importance: as
- a.
  - (1) a capital sum earning interest, due as a debt, or used as a fund
  - (2) the corpus of an estate, portion, devise, or bequest
- b. the construction that gives shape and strength to a roof and is usually one of several trusses; broadly the most important member of a piece of framing
Usage: see principle
? principalship noun