principle / beginning; start; commencement / source; origin; cause

in principle, in theory, theoretically

out of principle, on principle, as a matter of principle / just in case

petitio principii, an instance of begging the question

to work on the assumption that, to assume that

(philosophy, rhetoric) principle of charity (principle according to which an argument should be evaluated in light of its best, strongest possible interpretation)

São Tomé and Príncipe

plural of principe