prize

plural prizes

1. That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power.

   […] wherefore he now begunne To challenge her anew, as his owne prize, Whom formerly he had in battell wonne,

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 54

2. governmentAnything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; especially, property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel.

   Having taken all the Treasure on Board their own Ships, and plundered their Prize of every Thing elſe they either wanted or liked, they let her go; ſhe not being able to continue her Voyage, returned back: […]

   1724, Charles Johnson [pseudonym], “Of Captain Avery, and His Crew”, in A General History of the Pyrates, […], 2nd edition, London: Printed for, and sold by T. Warner, […], →OCLC, page 51

3. An honour or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort.

   A literary prize has been instituted for this SY.

   1 more example

   I fought and conquer’d, yet have lost the prize.

   1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, Act I, page 5

4. That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery.

   Cecil Rhodes […] was never tired of impressing upon one that the fact of being an Englishman was “the greatest prize in the lottery of life,” and that it was that thought which always sustained him when he was troubled.

   1928, Weston Jarvis, Jottings from an Active Life, London: Heath Cranton, page 256

5. Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect.

   I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Philippians 3:14

6. obsoleteA contest for a reward; competition.

   Like one of two contending in a prize, That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes […]

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

7. A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever.

   Synonyms: prise

present singular third person prizes · participle present prizing · participle past prized · past prized

1. To consider highly valuable; to esteem.

   I pris’d your Person, but your Crown disdain.

   1675, John Dryden, chapter V, in Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   […] I Beyond all limit of what else i’ the world Do love, prize, honour you.

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]

   ‘[…] An old broken cup has no value. No one prizes it.’ ‘I prize it. It’s my museum, not yours.’

   2013, J. M. Coetzee, chapter 20, in The Childhood of Jesus, London: Harvill Secker, page 167

   Synonyms: honor, regard, respect, esteem, honor, idolize, lay store by, look up to

2. obsoleteTo set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to rate.

   […] a goodly price that I was prized at.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Zechariah 11:13

   1 more example

   […] no life, I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour,

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

   Synonyms: esteem, evaluate, appraise, apprise, apprize, assess, esteem, evaluate

3. To move with a lever; to force up or open; to prise or pry.

   ‘Find some other black boxes to prize open.’

   2021, Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun, Faber & Faber Limited, page 298

4. obsoleteTo compete in a prizefight.

1. not comparableHaving won a prize; award-winning.

   a prize vegetable

2. not comparableFirst-rate; exceptional.

   He was a prize fool.

plural prizes

1. obsoleteObsolete form of price.First known use 16th–19th c.

   My prizes – for a head is thirty five Guineas – As far as the Knees seventy – and for a whole-length one hundred and fifty.

   1777, Joshua Reynolds, edited by John Ingamells and John Edgcumbe, The Letters of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Yale, published 2000, page 69