All 9 Uses of
principle
in
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
- He tried his utmost to corrupt the pure principles my grandmother had instilled.†
Chpt 5 *principles = basic rules or beliefs
- I would rather drudge out my life on a cotton plantation, till the grave opened to give me rest, than to live with an unprincipled master and a jealous mistress.†
Chpt 6unprincipled = lacking or not based on basic beliefsstandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unprincipled means not and reverses the meaning of principled. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
- Even the slaves despise "a northern man with southern principles;" and that is the class they generally see.†
Chpt 8principles = basic rules or beliefs
- She may have had religious principles inculcated by some pious mother or grandmother, or some good mistress; she may have a lover, whose good opinion and peace of mind are dear to her heart; or the profligate men who have power over her may be exceedingly odious to her.†
Chpt 9
- For years, my master had done his utmost to pollute my mind with foul images, and to destroy the pure principles inculcated by my grandmother, and the good mistress of my childhood.†
Chpt 10
- There may be sophistry in all this; but the condition of a slave confuses all principles of morality, and, in fact, renders the practice of them impossible.†
Chpt 10
- I was just where she would have me—in the power of a hard, unprincipled master.†
Chpt 16unprincipled = lacking or not based on basic beliefsstandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unprincipled means not and reverses the meaning of principled. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
- Place your trust in God, and be governed by good principles, and you will not fail to find friends.†
Chpt 31principles = basic rules or beliefs
- She was a person of excellent principles and a noble heart.†
Chpt 40
Definitions:
-
(1)
(principle) a basic rule or beliefThe 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
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
See a comprehensive dictionary for more specialized senses including one in chemistry.