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Principle I Refuse ˈprɪnsəpl Moral Matter High Lie

Word principle
WordType (noun)
Phonetic BrE / ˈprɪnsəpl / NAmE / ˈprɪnsəpl /
Example
  • he has high moral principles.
  • i refuse to lie about it; it's against my principles.
  • stick to your principles and tell him you won't do it.
  • she refuses to allow her family to help her as a matter of principle.
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Content

principle

(noun)BrE / ˈprɪnsəpl / NAmE / ˈprɪnsəpl /
  1. a moral rule or a strong belief that influences your actions
    • He has high moral principles.
    • I refuse to lie about it; it's against my principles.
    • Stick to your principles and tell him you won't do it.
    • She refuses to allow her family to help her as a matter of principle.
    • He doesn't invest in the arms industry on principle.
  2. a law, a rule or a theory that something is based on
    • the principles and practice of writing reports
    • The principle behind it is very simple.
    • There are three fundamental principles of teamwork.
    • Discussing all these details will get us nowhere; we must get back to first principles (= the most basic rules).
  3. a belief that is accepted as a reason for acting or thinking in a particular way
    • the principle that free education should be available for all children
  4. a general or scientific law that explains how something works or why something happens
    • See related entries: Experiments and research
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/experiments_and_research/principle_2
    • the principle that heat rises
    • A tidal current turbine is similar in principle to a windmill.
  5. if something can be done in principle, there is no good reason why it should not be done although it has not yet been done and there may be some difficulties
    • In principle there is nothing that a human can do that a machine might not be able to do one day.
  6. in general but not in detail
    • They have agreed to the proposal in principle but we still have to negotiate the terms.

    Extra Examples

    • Eating meat was against her principles.
    • Freedom is the founding principle of our Republic.
    • He was a man of high moral principles.
    • His novels reject chronology as an organizing principle.
    • I agree with you in principle, but we’ll need to discuss the details.
    • I refuse to compromise my principles by eating meat.
    • She is interested in actual human relationships rather than abstract principles.
    • She sticks to the principle that everyone should be treated equally.
    • She went on to explain the principles behind what she was doing.
    • She’s opposed to abortion on principle.
    • The house incorporates many principles of modern environmentally aware design.
    • The principle of equality is enshrined in our Constitution.
    • They reject the proposal as a matter of principle.
    • This principle applies to all kinds of selling.
    • This violates every principle of good writing.
    • the basic principles of car maintenance
    • the principles underlying Western philosophy
    • As a man of principle, he would not cover up for his former friend.
    • As a matter of principle she won’t be visiting the president.
    • Concern for welfare of the child is the guiding principle of the family courts.
    • He doesn’t invest in the arms industry on principle.
    • I can’t accept his offer without seriously compromising my principles.
    • I refuse to lie about it—it’s against my principles.
    • It is based on the principle that heat rises.
    • Some countries refuse to accept these legal principles.
    • Stick to your principles and tell him you won’t do it.
    • The group never departed from its principle of non-violence.
    • The order to show no mercy was contrary to the most basic principles of their religion.
    • Their policy is based on the principle that free education should be available for all children.
    • These same principles apply to all animals, including humans.
    • We apply the principle of prevention to other areas of our lives; we regularly visit the dentist even when there is no pain.
    • We must get back to first principles.

    Word Origin

    • late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin principium ‘source’, principia (plural) ‘foundations’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’.
Copyright This card's content is collected from the following dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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