principality

C2+ Topic:Places & Geography

US /ˌprɪnsɪˈpælɪti/ UK /ˌprɪnsɪˈpælɪti/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a state or territory ruled by a prince

Monaco is a tiny principality nestled on the Mediterranean coast.

Thesaurus

Etymology

From Old French principalite, from Late Latin principalitas, from Latin principalis ('chief, primary'), from princeps ('first, chief'), from primus ('first') + capere ('to take').

principalis Latin princeps Latin primus Latin

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Places & Geography Word Formation & Derivatives

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# principality

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌprɪnsɪˈpælɪti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌprɪnsɪˈpælɪti/

## Meanings
1. a state or territory ruled by a prince

## Examples
- Monaco is a tiny principality nestled on the Mediterranean coast.

## Synonyms
- realm
- domain
- territory
- state
- dominion
- princedom

## Related Forms
- prince
- principal
- princely

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: principalis
- Root: princeps
- Root: primus

## Etymology
From Old French principalite, from Late Latin principalitas, from Latin principalis ('chief, primary'), from princeps ('first, chief'), from primus ('first') + capere ('to take').

## AI Etymology
Principality comes from Old French principalite, from Late Latin principalitas, from Latin principalis ('chief, primary'), from princeps ('first, chief'), from primus ('first') + capere ('to take'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a noun, it denotes "a state or territory ruled by a prince", keeping the historical idea close to its dictionary sense. Relevant historical forms include Latin principalis, Latin princeps, and Latin primus. Related words include prince, principal, princely.

## Topics
- Places & Geography
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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principality

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