Dictionary.net

a basic truth or law or assumption; "the principles of democracy"

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"

a rule or standard especially of good behavior; "a man of principle"; "he will not violate his principles"

(law) 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"

a basic truth or law or assumption; "the principles of democracy"

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"

a rule or standard especially of good behavior; "a man of principle"; "he will not violate his principles"

A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.

An original faculty or endowment.

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.

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.

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.

To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct, good or ill.

A source or cause; a settled rule or law of conduct; a truth which is general and fundamental; as, the principles of government; reason; uprightness.

1. A continuously acting power or force. 2. The essential ingredient in a drug or chemical compound.

Chief or important constituent.

A fundamental truth: a law or doctrine from which others are derived: an original faculty of the mind: a settled rule of action: (chem.) a constituent part.

To establish in principles: to impress with a doctrine.

A cause; essence.

A general truth; rule of action, especially of right action.

The source or origin of anything; clement; constituent or component part; an axiom or accepted truth; ground or reason; a general truth or law comprehending many subordinate one's; tenet or doctrine; a settled law or rule of action; action rightly motived.

To impress with any tenet; to establish firmly in the mind. See Prince.

The cause, source, or origin of anything; an element; ground of action; motive; a constituent part; a fundamental truth; a law comprehending many subordinate truths; a settled law or rule of conduct or action; a tenet or doctrine.

To establish firmly in the mind.

A definite essential constituent.

A general truth; a general or widely prevailing law.

An element or ultimate constituent, especially that one on which the distinctive characters of anything depend

n. [Latin] A. source or origin ; that from which any thing proceeds;-an original faculty or endowment of the soul ;-a fundamental truth or tenet ; an elementary proposition ;-a settled rule of action;-usually, a right role of conduct ;- an original element which characterizes some substance, and from which it may be obtained by analysis.