I. ˈprīz noun
Etymology: Middle English pris prize, price — more at price
Date: 14th century
1. : something offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance ; also : premium 1d
2. : something exceptionally desirable
3. archaic : a contest for a reward : competition
II. adjective
Date: 1803
1.
a. : awarded or worthy of a prize
b. : awarded as a prize
c. : entered for the sake of a prize
a prize drawing
2. : outstanding of a kind
raised prize hogs
III. transitive verb
( prized ; priz·ing )
Etymology: Middle English prisen, from Anglo-French priser, preiser to appraise, esteem, from Late Latin pretiare, from Latin pretium price, value — more at price
Date: 14th century
1. : to estimate the value of : rate
2. : to value highly : esteem
a prized possession
Synonyms: see appreciate
IV. noun
Etymology: Middle English prise, from Anglo-French, taking, seizure, from prendre to take, from Latin prehendere — more at get
Date: 14th century
1. : something taken by force, stratagem, or threat ; especially : property lawfully captured at sea in time of war
2. : an act of capturing or taking ; especially : the wartime capture of a ship and its cargo at sea
Synonyms: see spoil
V. transitive verb
( prized ; priz·ing )
Etymology: prize lever
Date: 1686
: to press, force, or move with a lever : pry