prince
UK[prɪns]US[prɪns]
n
A male member of a royal family, especially the son or grandson of a king or queen.
n
A male ruler of a small country, especially one whose rank is below that of a king.
Morpheme Breakdown
prin
ce
prin
first
ce
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'prince' entered English via Old French 'prince', from the Latin 'princeps', meaning "first person, chief leader, emperor." This Latin term is a compound of 'primus' (first) and the root 'capere' (to take, seize), thus literally meaning "the one who takes the first place." Over time, the meaning evolved from a general "sovereign ruler" to its more specific modern sense of a non-reigning male member of a royal family, reflecting a shift from describing power to describing hereditary rank within a monarchy.
Analysis
Structure: prin (first) + ce (noun suffix)
'prin' originates from Latin princeps (first, chief, leader). 'ce' is a common noun suffix derived from the Latin suffix -ceps (taking, seizing), which was simplified in Old French and English.
Examples
The young prince will one day become king.
Prince Albert was the husband of Queen Victoria.
Machiavelli's famous work is titled "The Prince."