Prize
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)- 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. - (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.
- 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.
- That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery.
- 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.
- A contest for a reward; competition.
- A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever. Also spelled prise.
Derived terms
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
- To consider highly valuable; to esteem.
- ShakespeareI do love, prize, honour you.
- DrydenI prized your person, but your crown disdain.
- (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.
- To move with a lever; to force up or open; to prise or pry.
- (obsolete) To compete in a prizefight.