Meanings
plural principes
- Ancient RomeThe title of the Roman emperor during the principate.
Its special characteristics were that the princeps was not governed by any law of procedure or confined to a particular place of judgment and, moreover, had complete freedom in the composition of his consilium.
1984, Karl Christ, The Romans: An Introduction to Their History and Civilisation, University of California Press, →ISBN, page 126Synonyms: First Citizen
- mediaThe editio princeps, or first edition of a book.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe title of the Roman emperor during the principate.
Origin
- Latinprī̆nceps“first, foremost”
- Englishprinceps
Borrowed from Latin prī̆nceps (“first, foremost”). Doublet of prince and principe.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
German Prinzeps
- Prinzepstitle during the principate
Cite this entry
princeps. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/princeps
“princeps.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/princeps. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “princeps,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/princeps.
Source: princeps on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.