• Prize

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /pɹaɪz/
      • Rhymes: -aɪz
    • Homophones: pries, prise

    Origin 1

    From Middle English prise, from Old French prise ("a taking, capture, a seizure, a thing seized, a prize, booty, also hold, purchase"), from French prise, from pris, past participle of prendre ("to take, to capture"), from Latin prendere ("to take, seize"); see prehend. Compare prison, apprise, comprise, enterprise, purprise, reprisal, suprise, etc.

    Full definition of prize

    Noun

    prize

    (plural prizes)
    1. That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power.
      • SpenserHis own prize,
        Whom formerly he had in battle won.
    2. (military, nautical) Anything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; especially, property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel.
    3. An honour or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort.
      • DrydenI fought and conquered, yet have lost the prize.
    4. That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery.
    5. Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect.
      • Bible, Phil. iii. 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
    6. A contest for a reward; competition.
    7. A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever. Also spelled prise.

    Usage notes

    Do not confuse with price.

    Origin 2

    From Middle English prysen, from Old French priser ("to set a price or value on, esteem, value"), from pris ("price"), from Latin pretium ("price, value"); see price. Compare praise, appraise, apprize.

    Verb

    1. To consider highly valuable; to esteem.
      • ShakespeareI do love, prize, honour you.
      • DrydenI prized your person, but your crown disdain.
    2. (obsolete) To set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to rate.
      • Bible, Zech. xi. 13A goodly price that I was prized at.
      • ShakespeareI prize it life not a straw, but for mine honour.
    3. To move with a lever; to force up or open; to prise or pry.
    4. (obsolete) To compete in a prizefight.
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