principality

principality · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromprīncipālis“principal”
2. Late Latin · derived fromprīncipālitās
3. Middle French · derived fromprincipalté
4. Anglo-Norman · derived fromprincipalté
5. Middle English · inherited fromprincipalte
6. English todayprincipality

From Middle English principalte, principalite, from Anglo-Norman principalté, Middle French principalté, from Late Latin prīncipālitās, from Latin prīncipālis (“principal”) + -tās. Equivalent to principal + -ity.

Principality · proper noun²

From the mistaken belief that the Prince of Wales is the country's head of state; the historical Principality of Wales only made up a portion of the country of Wales.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. A region or sovereign nation headed by a prince or princess.
• from 16th c. A spiritual being, specifically in Christian angelology, the third lowest level of angels, ranked above archangels and below powers.
• 14th–19th c. The state of being a prince or ruler; sovereignty, absolute authority.
• from 14th c. The state of being principal; pre-eminence.