principle

Everyday

1. A basic rule or belief about what is right that guides how someone behaves: She has strong principles. tree →
2. A basic law or fact that explains how something works: the principle of a lever. tree →
3. «In principle» means in general or in theory, but maybe not in practice. tree →
4. «On principle» means because of what you believe is right. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons we learn principles, like the principle that hot air rises or how a pulley works. In maths, a principle is a basic rule used again and again, such as «what you do to one side you do to the other». In stories, characters stand by their principles, refusing to lie or cheat. Phrases: «a matter of principle», «in principle», «on principle», «basic principles», «against my principles».

Examples

• Lying is against my principles. tree →
• A lever works on a simple principle. tree →
• In principle, we can go, but we need permission first. tree →
• He refused to cheat on principle. tree →
• Learn the basic principles of addition. tree →
• It's a matter of principle, not money. tree →
• The principle of fairness means everyone gets a turn. tree →
• Floating boats follow the principle of displacement. tree →
• The Weasel said he couldn't do that because he was an enemy of all birds on principle. tree →

Note

Homophone trap: principle (a rule or belief, ends in -LE) vs principal (the head of a school, or «main», ends in -AL). Memory trick: the principAL is your PAL; a principLE is a ruLE. Countable: principles.

In Jewish tradition

In science lessons we learn principles, like the principle that hot air rises or how a pulley works. In maths, a principle is a basic rule used again and again, such as «what you do to one side you do to the other». In stories, characters stand by their principles, refusing to lie or cheat. Phrases: «a matter of principle», «in principle», «on principle», «basic principles», «against my principles».

Examples

• The Third sect recognised no god beside the Sun, in which it recognised the sole principle of existence." (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• The Kabalistic principles involved in the reversal of Hebrew letters, and their substitution by others, on definite schemes, should also be studied and borne in mind. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• Did their "harmony" mean the principle of position?' (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Homophone trap: principle (a rule or belief, ends in -LE) vs principal (the head of a school, or «main», ends in -AL). Memory trick: the principAL is your PAL; a principLE is a ruLE. Countable: principles.