8 uses
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Definition
a basic rule or belief
The exact meaning of principle can depend upon its context. For example:
- "our guiding principles" — basic moral beliefs that guide decisions and behavior
- "electromagnetic principles" — rules describing how the world works
- "She lacks principles." — lacks moral guidelines
- "We agree in principle." — about important basic beliefs
- The second principle of the crammed-Victorian school was that every inch of the interior must be filled with useless objects.Chapter 11 (64% in)
- ...of course your husband was raised up a Baptist, and I do hope he won't drift away from the fold, of course we all know there isn't anything, not cleverness or gifts of gold or anything, that can make up for humility and the inward grace and they can say what they want to about the P. E. church, but of course there's no church that has more history or has stayed by the true principles of Christianity better than the Baptist Church and——In what church were you raised, Mrs. Kennicott?"Chapter 6 (15% in)
- It was furnished on two principles: First, everything must resemble something else.Chapter 11 (63% in)
- To find one of the "young folks" who took them seriously, heartened the Perrys, and she easily drew from them the principles by which Gopher Prairie should be born again—should again become amusing to live in.Chapter 12 (89% in)
- He talked only of the obvious and tedious aspects; never of his aspirations in finance, nor of the mechanical principles of motors.Chapter 16 (26% in)
- Miss Stowbody expressed the fundamental principle of the American drama: the only way to be artistic is to present Shakespeare.Chapter 17 (34% in)
- Matter of principle: ought not to let her get away with it.Chapter 25 (47% in)
- Nat Hicks was socially acceptable; he had been here for years, and owned his shop; but this person was merely Nat's workman, and the town's principle of perfect democracy was not meant to be applied indiscriminately.Chapter 28 (95% in)
There are no more uses of "principle" in Main Street.
Typical Usage
(best examples)