I. In gen., first, original, primitive (class.): “causae,” Cic. Fat. 5, 9: “est igitur tropus sermo a naturali et principali significatione translatus ad aliam,” Quint. 9, 1, 4: “verba,” Gell. 11, 15, 5.—
II. In partic.
A. In rank, first in rank, station, or esteem, chief, principal: “viri,” App. Flor. p. 363, 38.—Of things abstr. and concr.: “pici principales in auguriis,” Plin. 10, 18, 20, § 41: “principalia in Arabiā tus, et myrrha,” id. 12, 13, 30, § 51: “principalia aquatilium,” id. 31, 6, 38, § 72: “causarum aliae sunt perfectae et principales, aliae adjuvantes et proximae,” Cic. Fat. 18, 41: “quaestio,” Quint. 4, 4, 1: “post haec duo principalia subjungebat illa non minus intuenda,” after these two principal points, Col. 1, 3, 3: “principali studio (i. e. praecipuo),” Gell. 13, 10, 1: “principalia verba,” primitive, id. 11, 15, 5: “de culturā agri praecipere, principale fuit et apud exteros,” a principal thing, Plin. 18, 3, 5, § 22: “principalis obligatio, res (opp. accessio),” Gai. Inst. 3, 126.—Comp.: “principalior,” Tert. Anim. 43: principaliora quaeque, id. cont. Marc. 4, 36.—As subst.: princĭpālis , is, m.
a. The foremost, overseer, superintendent: “officiorum, i. e. of attendants,” Cod. Just. 9, 51, 1.—
b. The chief magistrate of a municipality, Symm. Ep. 9, 1; Dig. 48, 19, 27; Isid. Orig. 9, 4: “principalis aut decurio,” Cod. Just. 10, 31, 33; 10, 34, 2, § 1.—
c. An inferior officer, Dig. 49, 16, 13.—
2. Of or belonging to a prince or ruler, princely, imperial, the emperor's (post-Aug.): “principalis quies,” Vell. 2, 56, 3: “fastigium,” id. 1, 11, 6: “opera,” id. 2, 124, 3: “curae,” Plin. Pan. 79: “copiae,” id. ib. 82: “apparatus arrogantiae principalis,” id. ib. 76: “beneficia,” id. ib. 36: “matrimonium,” Tac. H. 1, 22: “commentarii,” id. ib. 4, 40: “fortuna,” id. ib. 2, 81: “scortum,” id. ib. 1, 13: “majestas,” Suet. Claud. 17: “res,” id. Calig. 39: “bonum,” Plin. 13, 3, 4, § 22: vox, Just. Inst. prooem. 3.—
B. Of or belonging to the principes, i. e. to the second line in the order of battle (post-class.), Cod. Th. 12, 1, 151; Veg. Mil. 2, 15, 1.—
2. Of or belonging to the principium in a camp: principalis castrorum porta nominatur, quod in eo loco est, in quo principes ordines tendunt, Paul. ex Fest. p. 224 Müll.: “manipulos legionum principali viā inducit,” Liv. 10, 33: “porta principalis dextra,” id. 4, 19; cf. id. 40, 27. —Adv.: princĭpālĭter .
A. In gen., chiefly, principally (post-class.): “plurimae bestiae, sed principaliter leones,” Sol. 27: “negotium gerere,” Dig. 3, 2, 4.—
B. In partic., like a prince, imperially (post-Aug.): “gaudere,” Sen. Cons. ad Polyb. 36: “mores juventutis quam principaliter formas!” Plin. Pan. 47: “institutae leges,” Arn. 1, 2, 2: non principaliter, incidentally, Mos. et Rom. Leg. Coll. 12, 7, 5.
