| 释义 |
principiant, a. and n.|prɪnˈsɪpɪənt|
[a. obs. F. principiant, pr. pple. (also used as n.) of principier (1464 in Godef.), ad. late L. principiāre: see principiate v. and -ant.]
†A. adj. Constituting the beginning or source of something; originating; primary. Obs.
a1615Donne Ess. (1651) 109 It consists not of the chief and principiant parts. 1660Jer. Taylor Duct. Dubit. (L.), There are some principiant and mother sins pregnant with mischief of a progressive nature. 1675R. Burthogge Causa Dei 244 A Paternal is a Generative or Principiant Monad, and so is this, for he begetteth or Principleth the Number next in Nature, and that is Two.
B. n.
†1. A beginner, a novice. Obs. [Cf. It. principiante.]
1629Shirley Grateful S. iii. iv, Do you think that I have not wit to distinguish a principiant in vice from a graduate?
2. Math. (See quot.)
1887Sylvester in Amer. Jrnl. Math. IX. 20 Instead of the cumbrous terms Projective Reciprocants or Differential Invariants, it is better to use the single word Principiants to denominate that crowning class or order of Reciprocants which remain to a factor près, unaltered for any homographic substitutions impressed on the variables. |