prize
UK[praɪz]US[praɪz]
n
Something valuable, such as an amount of money or a trophy, that is given to someone who wins a competition or game, or who does very good work.
n
Something very good or desirable that is difficult to achieve or obtain.
v
To value something very highly.
Etymology
The word 'prize' originates from the Latin verb 'pretiare', meaning 'to value' or 'to appraise', itself derived from 'pretium' (price, value, reward). It entered Middle English via Old French 'pris' (price, value, esteem). The core semantic thread from Latin to modern English is the concept of 'value'. Over time, the spelling stabilized as 'prize', and its meaning specialized in two key directions: first, as a noun denoting a 'reward of value' given for merit or victory, capturing the outcome of being highly valued; and second, as a verb meaning 'to value highly', preserving the original sense of appraisal. This dual development illustrates how a general term for worth became concretized as a tangible reward while retaining its abstract verbal sense.
Analysis
The modern English word 'prize' is a single, unsegmentable morpheme derived from a long process of phonetic and semantic evolution from its Latin ancestor.
Examples
She won first prize in the science fair for her innovative project.
Good health is a prize beyond wealth.
We prize honesty above all other virtues in our team.