PRINCIPLE

principle. Principle, n. a fundamental truth, original cause, motive, ground of action, opinion, tenet, rule

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Prin″ci‐ple (?), n. [[F. principe, L. principium beginning, foundation, fr. princeps, -cipis. See Prince.]] 1. 1. Beginning; commencement.
Doubting sad end of principle unsound. Spenser. 2. 2. A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
The soul of man is an active principle. Tillotson. 3. 3. An original faculty or endowment.
Nature in your principles hath set . Chaucer. Those active principles whose direct and ultimate object is the communication either of enjoyment or suffering. Stewart. 4. 4. A fundamental truth; a comprehensive law or doctrine, from which others are derived, or on which others are founded; a general truth; an elementary proposition; a maxim; an axiom; a postulate.
Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection. Heb. vi. 1. A good principle, not rightly understood, may prove as hurtful as a bad. Milton. 5. 5. A settled rule of action; a governing law of conduct; an opinion or belief which exercises a directing influence on the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of conduct consistently directing one's actions; as, a person of no principle.
All kinds of dishonesty destroy our pretenses to an honest principle of mind. Law. 6. 6. (Chem.) Any original inherent constituent which characterizes a substance, or gives it its essential properties, and which can usually be separated by analysis; — applied especially to drugs, plant extracts, etc.
Cathartine is the bitter, purgative principle of senna. Gregory. Bitter principle, Principle of contradiction, etc. See under Bitter, Contradiction, etc.