Definitions

1. noun

A book of first principles or elementary truths, especially one written by Isaac Newton.

“The university library held a rare copy of Newton’s Principia, which was a prized possession of the institution.”

2. noun

The fundamental principles or laws that govern a particular field of study or activity.

“The new physics textbook emphasized the key principles underlying quantum mechanics, drawing upon Newton’s Principia for inspiration.”

3. noun

A set of underlying assumptions or axioms that form the foundation of a philosophical, scientific, or mathematical system.

“The mathematician sought to identify the underlying principia that governed the behavior of complex systems, which would provide a unified framework for understanding their properties.”