01 n. Beginning; commencement.
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1.
Beginning; commencement.[Obs.]“Doubting sad end of principle unsound.” — Spenser.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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6.
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.(Chem.)“Cathartine is the bitter, purgative principle of senna.” — Gregory.