[ˈprɪnsɪpl], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- first in order of importance; main
(e.g: the country's principal cities)

- denoting an original sum invested or lent
(e.g: the principal amount of your investment)


Phrases:
- principal in the first degree
- principal in the second degree

Origin:
Middle English: via Old French from Latin principalis ‘first, original’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’

[ˈprɪnsɪpl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- the most important or senior person in an organization or group
(e.g: a design consultancy whose principal is based in San Francisco)

- a sum of money lent or invested, on which interest is paid
(e.g: the winners are paid from the interest without even touching the principal)

- a person for whom another acts as an agent or representative
(e.g: stockbrokers in Tokyo act as agents rather than as principals)

- the person directly responsible for a crime

- a main rafter supporting purlins

- an organ stop sounding a main register of open flue pipes typically an octave above the diapason
(e.g: all the principals are on one manual)


Phrases:
- principal in the first degree
- principal in the second degree

Origin:
Middle English: via Old French from Latin principalis ‘first, original’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’