n.
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 : a person who has controlling authority or is in a leading position: as a : a chief or head man or woman b : the chief executive officer of an educational institution c : one who engages another to act as an agent subject to general control and instruction specifically : the person from whom an agent's authority derives d : the chief or an actual participant in a crime e : the person primarily or ultimately liable on a legal obligation f : a leading performer : STAR
2 : a matter or thing of primary importance: as a (1) : a capital sum earning interest, due as a debt, or used as a fund (2) : the corpus of an estate, portion, devise, or bequest b : the construction that gives shape and strength to a roof and is usually one of several trusses broadly : the most important member of a piece of framing
usage see PRINCIPLE
– prin · ci · pal · ship \ ' prin(t)-s( ə -)p ə l- ˌ ship, -s ə -b ə l- \ noun