principio

=

noun

principio

masculine noun

1. beginning, start (comienzo)

el principio del fin -> the beginning of the end
del principio al fin, desde el principio hasta el fin -> from beginning to end, from start to finish
a principios de -> at the beginning of
al principio -> at first, in the beginning
en principio quedamos en hacer una reunión el jueves -> provisionally o unless you hear otherwise, we've arranged to meet on Thursday
en un principio -> at first

2. principle (fundamento, ley)

3. origin, source (origen)

4. element (elemento)

also:

principios -> principles; (reglas de conducta) rudiments, first principles (nociones)

principio [prin-thee’-pe-o]

noun

1. Beginning (comienzo), commencement. (m)

2. Principle, element, constituent part. (m)

3. Principle, original cause; ground of action, motive; origin (origen), fountain. (m)

4. Principle, first position, fundamental truth. (m)

5. Principle, first on which morality is founded (moral). (m)

6. Any of the courses served up at table besides the boiled meat. (m)

7. An element or body not decomposable by means now at command. (Chemistry) (m)

Principios, the preliminaries to a volume, as license, approbation, dedication, etc. Al principi -> or a los principios, at the beginning
Del principio al fin -> from beginning to end
Bajo el mismo principio -> on the same ground
A principios del mes -> early in the month