Meaning & use
princely
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Very large and generous, especially of an amount of money.
Grammar: Usually comes before the noun it describes, as in 'a princely sum'; it is not used after 'be' in this sense.
Patterns
- a princely sum
- a princely fortune
- a princely salary
He sold the old factory for a princely sum.
They paid a princely salary to attract the best manager.
She left her nephew a princely fortune.
adjectivebefore a nounliterary
Belonging to or suitable for a prince; royal and splendid.
Grammar: Comes before a noun, as in 'princely robes'; this use is mostly literary or historical.
Patterns
- princely robes
- a princely palace
- princely status
The guests walked through the princely halls of the old palace.
He wore princely robes of red and gold.
The family lived in princely comfort for generations.
adjectivebefore a nounformalold-fashioned
Behaving in a noble, dignified way, like an ideal prince.
Grammar: Used before a noun to praise someone's behavior or character; fairly formal and now uncommon.
Patterns
- princely behavior
- a princely gesture
- princely virtues
He showed princely courage when the ship began to sink.
Her princely manners impressed everyone at the dinner.
Word forms
| comparative | more princely |
|---|---|
| superlative | most princely |
Common combinations
- a princely sum
- For a few hours' work, that is a princely sum.
- a princely fortune
- The painting fetched a princely fortune at auction.
- princely robes
- The actor appeared in princely robes on stage.
- princely treatment
- The guests received princely treatment all weekend.
- princely salary
- No one expected such a princely salary for a junior role.
Synonyms and how they differ
- generous
- Use 'generous' for any large, kind amount; 'princely' is stronger and often hints at surprise or irony.
- handsome
- 'A handsome sum' is a close match in meaning, but 'handsome' also describes people's looks, which 'princely' never does.
- lavish
- 'Lavish' stresses spending without limit on things or events, while 'princely' usually describes the size of a single sum or fortune.
- royal
- 'Royal' simply means connected with a king or queen; 'princely' suggests a prince in particular and often sounds more literary.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: princely or principled? princely or princessly?
princely vs principled
'Principled' means having strong moral rules; 'princely' means royal or very generous. They sound similar but mean very different things.
princely vs princessly
'Princessly' is a rare adjective about princesses; use 'princely' for anything to do with a prince.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'princely' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Princely' goes before a noun and describes a large amount or royal quality, so 'a princely sum' fits. The other options use it like an adverb, which it is not; 'very' or 'extremely' would be needed there.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “princely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.