Etymograph

English

principal

Principal comes from Old French principal, from Latin prīncipālis, from prīnceps ‘first, chief’.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprīnceps‘first, chief’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprīncipālis
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400principal
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1579same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprīnceps‘first, chief’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprīncipālis
  3. Old Frenchc. 842–1400principal
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1579same form

Earliest quotation: 1579, Immeritô pseudonym; Edmund Spenser, The Shepheardes Calender: […]: “a birde whose principals be scarce growne out”.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *keh₂p-

receiver, unacceptable, receptor, receipt, participant, inception, interception, incapable, perceptive, recuperate, recuperation, occupier, misbehave, incipient, 11 more

Today it means

adj Primary; most important; first level in importance.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin prīnceps / principal

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