All 13 Uses

principal
in
A Child Called It
(Auto-generated)

The nurse returns in a few minutes with Mr. Hansen the principal, and two of my teachers, Miss Woods and Mr. Ziegler.†
Chpt 1 *

principal = most important; or person that is most important
At arm's length she hands my test to me, but before I can take my seat in the back of the class by an open window, I'm summoned back to the principal's office.†
Chpt 1
Soon the principal returns with a box of cookies, warning me not to eat so fast.†
Chpt 1
I look up at the principal.†
Chpt 1
The teacher told the principal, who in turn informed Mother.†
Chpt 4
The principal's report to Mother led to more beatings and less food for me at the house.†
Chpt 4
I got away with it for a short time, but it didn't take long for the principal to trace the thefts back to me.†
Chpt 4
One day, she finally reported her concerns to the school principal.†
Chpt 4
Mother said that she would meet with the principal the next day to justify all the false accusations.†
Chpt 4
She told me how she had dressed up to see the principal, with her infant son Russell in her arms.†
Chpt 4
Mother told me how she had explained to the principal how David had an overactive imagination.†
Chpt 4
I could imagine her turning on her snake-like charm as she cuddled Russell for the benefit of the principal.†
Chpt 4
The teachers and principal knew me and carefully watched me.†
Chpt 4

Definitions:

(1) (principal)
most important; or person who is most important
The exact meaning of principal can depend upon its context. For example:
- "the principal idea" or "the principal performer" -- the most important
- "the principal of the school" -- the person in charge
- "a principal of a company" -- an owner or person with controlling authority
- "the principal in a transaction" (as contrasted to the agent) -- the person on whose behalf an agent acts
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
See a comprehensive dictionary for specialized senses in finance, architecture, law, chemistry, and music.