principle Copy link Outline I. Elemental germ or force; beginning1. princĭpium2. ĕlĕmentum3. only in pl., prīmordia, orumII. A rule laid down, a fundamental maxim1. instĭtūtum2. collectively, instĭtūtio, rătio, disciplīna3. dēcrētum (dogma)III. With reference to practical life, conscientiousness, integrity • principle: I. Elemental germ or force; beginning: 1. princĭpium: the first p. of all things, pr. rerum, Lucr. 1, 834. Usu. pl.: the first p.s of law, pr. juris, Cic. Leg. 1, 6, 18: to lay down carefully the first p.s, pr. bene explorata ponere, ib. 1, 13, 37. 2. ĕlĕmentum: v. element. 3. only in pl., prīmordia, orum: Lucr. 1, 56 (rerum pr.). II. A rule laid down, a fundamental maxim: 1. instĭtūtum: the precepts and p.s of philosophy, praecepta institutaque philosophiae, Cic. Off. init.: to imbue the mind with the soundest p.s, optimis i. mentem imbuere, Quint. 1, 1, 16: the p.s of jurisprudence, juris publici instituta, Cic. Br. 77, 269. 2. collectively, instĭtūtio, rătio, disciplīna: cf. Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 6, haec institutio atque haec disciplina (these p.s and rules of conduct): id. Or. 32, 115, hac Chrysippi disciplina institutus (trained in these p.s): the p.s of the Stoics, Stoicorum ratio disciplinaque, id. Off. 3, 4, 20. 3. dēcrētum (dogma): Cic. Ac. 2, 9, 27: Sen. III. With reference to practical life, conscientiousness, integrity: Phr.: a man of p., vir gravis et severus, Cic. de Or. 2, 56, 228; vir sanctus et religiosus (with ref. to oaths), Cic. R. Com. 15, 44; vir justi officiique observans (v. upright, conscientious): a man of no p., vir levis (with no solidity of character), Cic. Clu. 28, init. (leves ac nummarii judices): see also unprincipled.
PRINCIPLE Copy link • PRINCIPLEOrigin, principium: origo. Maxim laid down, opinion, practical sentiment, dogma (δόγμα), or, pure Latin, decretum, or (post-Augustan) placitum, or scitum (of philosophers; Vid: Cic., Acad., 2, 43, 133; 2, 9, 27 and 29; Sen., Ep., 95, 9): ratio (at the foundation of thinking and acting; of philosophers and others. ☞ In this sense principium is not Latin): consilium (rule for a rational mode of acting): praeceptum (a precept regulating actions, a rule; also, a maxim of a philosopher, as Hor., Ep., 1, 1, 18; Sen., Ep., 95, 12; different from praeceptio): institutum (that which use or custom has established as a rule, different from institutio). (The words are found in this connection and order.) praecepta institutaque philosophiae; sententia (an opinion): judicium, also with animi (a conviction, view, founded on judgement): regula alicujus rei or ad quam aliquid dirigitur (rule by which one directs himself in anything, that which one ought to follow in anything: ☞ never without a genitive of the object, etc.; e.g., eadem utilitatis quae honestatis est regula = the same principle avails for, etc., Cic., Off., 3, 18, 75): lex (law, rule for direction, as Cic., De Or., 2, 15, 62, primam esse historiae legem): principles of sound reason, integra certaque ratio (Vid: Cic., Tusc., 4, 17, 38): principles for our conduct in life, ratio vitae; ratio ac vita: the principles of an individual, quid quisque sentit (sentiat): firm principles, ratio firma stabilisque: a man of firm principles, homo constans (true to his character): homo gravis (of strict moral principle): a person of no fixed principles, homo levis; of corrupt principles, homo impurus (Vid: Ter., Eun., 2, 2, 4; Cic., Lael., 16, 59): one who acts up to his principles, vir sui judicii (according to his conviction, whereas vir sui arbitrii would be one who acts according to his own will and pleasure): from principle, ratione (agreeably to adopted principle): judicio, animi quodam judicio (from certain conviction): doctrina (from instruction; opposed to natura = from natural inclination; Vid: Nep., Att., 17, 3): to remain true to one’s principle, rationem et institutionem suam conservare; sibi constare; obtinere eandem antiquam rationem (of conduct): in pristinis sententiis permanere (of opinions): to change one’s principles, mutare animi judicium: to adopt the principles of anybody, alicujus rationem suscipere: to have principles, sentire, with an adverb expressing the nature of the principles; as, recte (correct), bene (good), male (bad), humiliter demisseque (low), temere (not firm): this is my principle, mea sic est ratio.