Plural of prince; male members of royal families or rulers of principalities.
From Old French 'prince', from Latin 'princeps' meaning 'first' or 'chief', literally 'one who takes first place'. The word evolved from describing any leader or chief to specifically denoting royal male offspring or rulers.
The word prince literally means 'the one who comes first', which is why we have the seemingly unrelated word 'principal' - they share the same Latin root about being primary or chief. Throughout history, the title has been both inherited and earned, leading to the fascinating distinction between princes of blood and princes of merit.
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