n. (as a title usu. Prince)
1. a male member of a royal family other than a reigning king.
2 (in full prince of the blood) a son or grandson of a British monarch.
3 a ruler of a small State, actually or nominally subject to a king or emperor.
4 (as an English rendering of foreign titles) a noble usu. ranking next below a duke.
5 (as a courtesy title in some connections) a duke, marquis, or earl.
6 (often foll. by of) the chief or greatest (the prince of novelists).
Phrases and idioms:
Prince Charming an idealized young hero or lover. prince consort
1. the husband of a reigning female sovereign who is himself a prince.
2 the title conferred on him. Prince of Darkness Satan. Prince of Peace Christ. Prince of Wales the heir apparent to the British throne, as a title conferred by the monarch. Prince Regent a prince who acts as regent, esp. George (afterwards IV) as regent 1811-20. prince royal the eldest son of the reigning monarch. prince's feather a tall plant, Amaranthus hypochondriacus, with feathery spikes of small red flowers. prince's metal a brasslike alloy of copper and zinc.
Derivatives:
princedom n. princelet n. princelike adj. princeship n.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L princeps principis first, chief, sovereign f. primus first + capere take