principality

principality
/prin'seuh pal"i tee/, n., pl. principalities.
1. a state ruled by a prince, usually a relatively small state or a state that falls within a larger state such as an empire.
2. the position or authority of a prince or chief ruler; sovereignty; supreme power.
3. the rule of a prince of a small or subordinate state.
4. the Principality, Brit. Wales.
5. principalities, Theol.
a. an order of angels. Cf. angel (def. 1).
b. supramundane powers often in conflict with God. Ephes. 6:12.
6. Obs. preeminence.
[1300-50; ME principalite < OF < LL principalitas first place, superiority (ML: authority or territory of a prince). See PRINCIPAL, -ITY]

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(as used in expressions)
Principality of Andorra
Principality of Liechtenstein
Principality of Monaco
Tver Principality of

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Principality — Prin ci*pal i*ty, n.; pl. {Principalities}. [L. principalitas pre[ e]minence, excellence: cf. F. principalit[ e], principaut[ e]. See {Principal}.] 1. Sovereignty; supreme power; hence, superiority; predominance; high, or the highest, station.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • principality — ► NOUN (pl. principalities) 1) a state ruled by a prince. 2) (the Principality) Brit. Wales …   English terms dictionary

  • Principality — Principality, the BrE another name for Wales, used especially by politicians and in news reports …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • principality — c.1300, position of a prince, from O.Fr. principalite (Fr. principauté), from L.L. principalitatem (nom. principalitas), from principalis (see PRINCIPAL (Cf. principal)). Meaning region or state ruled by a prince is attested from c.1400 …   Etymology dictionary

  • principality — [prin΄sə pal′ə tē] n. pl. principalities [ME principalite < OFr < LL principalitas] 1. the rank, dignity, or jurisdiction of a prince 2. the territory ruled by a prince 3. a country with which a prince s title is identified …   English World dictionary

  • Principality — For other uses, see Principality (disambiguation). A principality (or princedom) is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or (in the widest sense) by a monarch with… …   Wikipedia

  • principality — UK [ˌprɪnsəˈpælətɪ] / US noun [countable] Word forms principality : singular principality plural principalities a) a country ruled by a prince the Principality of Liechtenstein b) the Principality mainly journalism another name for Wales …   English dictionary

  • principality — [[t]prɪ̱nsɪpæ̱lɪti[/t]] principalities N COUNT A principality is a country that is ruled by a prince. ...the tiny principality of Liechtenstein …   English dictionary

  • principality — prin|ci|pal|i|ty [ˌprınsıˈpælıti] n plural principalities 1.) a country that is ruled by a prince 2.) the Principality BrE Wales …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • principality — noun (plural principalities) a state ruled by a prince. ↘(the Principality) Brit. Wales. Origin ME: from OFr. principalite, from late L. principalitas, from L. principalis (see principal) …   English new terms dictionary

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