English Explanatory Dictionary

principality

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A region or sovereign nation headed by a prince or princess.
  2. A spiritual being, specifically in Christian angelology, the third lowest level of angels, ranked above archangels and below powers.
  3. The state of being a prince or ruler; sovereignty, absolute authority.
  4. The state of being principal; pre-eminence.
name
  1. Wales
  2. Alternative letter-case form of principality; any of the actual extant principalities.

Pronunciation

/pɹɪnsɪˈpælɪti/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-principality.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-principality.wav

Word forms

principality principalities the Principality

Etymology

From Middle English principalte, principalite, from Anglo-Norman principalté, Middle French principalté, from Late Latin prīncipālitās, from Latin prīncipālis (“principal”) + -tās. Equivalent to principal + -ity.

Related words

choirs of angels archangel power

Derived words

coprincipality princessipality Principality of Andorra Principality of Asturias Principality of Iberia Principality of Kakheti
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