1. n., adj., & int.
--n.
1. the most important town or city of a country or region, usu. its seat of government and administrative centre.
2 a the money or other assets with which a company starts in business. b accumulated wealth, esp. as used in further production. c money invested or lent at interest.
3 capitalists generally.
4 a capital letter.
--adj.
1. a principal; most important; leading. b colloq. excellent, first-rate.
2 a involving or punishable by death (capital punishment; a capital offence). b (of an error etc.) vitally harmful; fatal.
3 (of letters of the alphabet) large in size and of the form used to begin sentences and names etc.
--int. expressing approval or satisfaction.
Phrases and idioms:
capital gain a profit from the sale of investments or property. capital goods goods, esp. machinery, plant, etc., used or to be used in producing commodities (opp. consumer goods). capital levy
1. the appropriation by the State of a fixed proportion of the wealth in the country.
2 a wealth tax. capital sum a lump sum of money, esp. payable to an insured person. capital territory a territory containing the capital city of a country. capital transfer tax hist. (in the UK) a tax levied on the transfer of capital by gift or bequest etc.
Usage:
Replaced in 1986 by inheritance tax. make capital out of use to one's advantage. with a capital -- emphatically such (art with a capital A).
Derivatives:
capitally adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L capitalis f. caput -itis head 2. n. Archit. the head or cornice of a pillar or column.
Etymology: ME f. OF capitel f. LL capitellum dimin. of L caput head