I.subst. comm. [primus-capio], first in time or order (syn. primus).—Lit., in gen.: “ut quisque in fugā postremus, ita periculo princeps erat,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 34, § 90: “princeps in proelium ibat, ultimus conserto proelio excedebat,” Liv. 21, 4: “princeps Horatius ibat,” first, in front, in advance, id. 1, 26 Weissenb. ad loc.: “princeps fuit ad conatum exercitus comparandi,” Cic. Phil. 10, 11, 24: “Firmani principes pecuniae pollicendae fuerunt,” were the first to promise, id. ib. 7, 8, 23: “princeps in agendo,” id. Div. in Caecil. 15, 47; Caes. B. G. 7, 2: “omnium nationum exterarum princeps Sicilia se ad amicitiam populi Romani applicuit,” was the first that entered into friendship with the Roman people, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 1, § 2: “princeps et solus bellum his indixit,” Nep. Thras. 1, 5: “princeps in haec verba jurat,” Caes. B. C. 1, 76: “ut principes talem nuntium attulisse viderentur,” to be the first, id. ib. 1, 53: “qui Formiarum moenia dicitur Princeps tenuisse,” Hor. C. 3, 17, 7: “matri Qui dederit princeps oscula,” Ov. F. 2, 714: “princeps turmas inducit Asilas,” Verg. A. 11, 620: “princeps ante omnes,” first of all, id. ib. 5, 833.—Of things: “quoniam exordium princeps omnium esse debet,” Cic. Inv. 1, 7, 19: “qualitatum aliae sunt principes, aliae ex lis ortae,” original, id. Ac. 1, 7, 26: “mensis Romani anni,” Col. 11, 2, 3: “addere principi Limo particulam,” Hor. C. 1, 16, 13: “dies imperii princeps, vitae supremus,” Tac. A. 1, 9.—
B. The first, chief, the most eminent, distinguished, or noble (syn. primores): “longe omnium gravitate princeps Plato,” Cic. Or. 19, 62: “Eudoxus in astrologiā facile princeps,” id. Div. 2, 42, 87: “quaedam principes feminae,” certain noble ladies, Plin. 8, 32, 50, § 119: “principe loco genitus,” id. 37, 2, 11, § 40.—Prov.: “principibus placuisse viris non ultima laus est,” Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 35. —Rarely of things: “gemma princeps Sardonychus,” Juv. 13, 138.—
II. As subst.: princeps , cĭpis, m., the first man, first person: “princeps senatŭs,” the first senator on the censor's list, the first member of the Senate, Liv. 34, 44.—
B. Esp., the first, chief, principal, most distinguished person: “quales in re publicā principes essent, talis reliquos solere esse civis,” Cic. Fam. 1, 9, 12: “juventutis,” one of the noblest of the Roman knights, id. Vatin. 10, 24: trecenti conjuravimus principes juventutis Romanae, i. e. high-born or patrician youths, Liv. 2, 12, 15 (= proceres juventutis, id. 10, 28, 7); 42, 61, 5.—In the time of the emperors this was also a title of honor given to the prince, the heir to the empire, Tac. A. 1, 3: “sacerdotum,” the high-priest, Vulg. Act. 4, 6. —
C. A chief, head, author, originator, leader, contriver, etc.: “princeps atque architectus sceleris,” Cic. Clu. 22, 60: “Zeno eorum (Stoicorum) princeps non tam rerum inventor fuit, quam verborum novorum,” id. Fin. 3, 2, 5: “princeps Argonautarum,” i. e. Jason, id. Tusc. 4, 32, 69: “principes consilii publici, i. e. senatus,” id. Sest. 45, 97: “conjurationis,” id. Cat. 1, 11, 27: “eorum omnium hic dux est atque princeps,” id. Har. Resp. 26, 57: “regendae civitatis dux et sententiae princeps in senatu,” id. de Or. 3, 17, 63: “(pueri) aequalium principes,” first among their playfellows, id. Fin. 5, 22, 61: “gregis,” i. e. of players, Suet. Calig. 58: “principes sententiarum consulares,” who were first asked for their opinion, Liv. 8, 21: “hujus consilii principes,” Caes. B. G. 2, 14: “belli inferendi,” first in commencing hostilities, id. ib. 5, 52: “jam princeps equitum,” at the head of, Juv. 4, 32.—Of ancestors: “hinc Dardanus ortus Iasiusque pater, genus a quo principe nostrum,” Verg. A. 3, 168 (cf., in this sense, principium, Sil. 15, 748; v. principium, II. B. 2.).—
D. A chief, superior, director (ante- and post-class.): “principes, qui utrique rei praeponuntur,” Varr. R. R. 1, 2; Lampr. Alex. Sev. 32.—
E. A prince, i. e. a ruler, sovereign, emperor (poet. and post-Aug.): “hic ames dici pater atque princeps,” Hor. C. 1, 2, 50; Ov. P. 1, 2, 123; Tac. A. 1, 1: “quae non faciet quod principis uxor,” Juv. 6, 617; 8, 224.—
F. In milit. lang.: princĭpes , um, m., the second line of soldiers, between the hastati and triarii, Liv. 8, 8; 22, 5; 30, 8; 37, 39; cf. Varr. L. L. 5, § 89; Veg. Mil. 1, 20; 2, 15; cf. Ov. F. 3, 129; and Becker, Antiq. 3, 2, p. 249 sq.; p. 269 sq.—Princeps also signifies,
1. A company or division of the principes: signum primi principis, of the first company of the principes, Liv. 26, 6, 1: “octavum principem duxit,” was centurion of the eighth maniple, Cic. ad Brut. 1, 8, 2.—
2. A centurion or captain of the principes: princeps prior, the first captain of the principes, Caes. B. C. 3, 64 fin.: “princeps tertiae legionis,” Liv. 25, 14; cf. id. 42, 34.—
3. The office of centurion of the principes, the centurionship or captaincy of the principes: mihi primus princeps prioris centuriae est adsignatus, the first captaincy of the principes, Liv. 42, 34, 8.—Comp.: “omnium priorum principum principiorem, si dici fas est,” Cassiod. Hist. Eccl. 1, 1.