Textual thesaurus for "principle"

(noun) rationale

(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature)

the rationale for capital punishment; the principles of internal-combustion engines

(noun) rule

a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system

the principle of the conservation of mass; the principle of jet propulsion; the right-hand rule for inductive fields

(noun) rule

a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct

their principles of composition characterized all their works

(noun) precept

rule of personal conduct