prize

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prize¹

  • /ˈpɹaɪ̯z/ Canada, US, UK
  • /ˈpɹɑ̟ɪ̯z/ Australia, New Zealand
  • /ˈpɹɒ̈ɪ̯z/ Australia, New Zealand
  • /ˈpɹaːz/

Sounds like pries, prise · Rhymes with -aɪz

Where it comes from

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

noun prizes

  1. That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power. […] wherefore he now begunne To challenge her anew, as his owne prize, Whom formerly he had in battell wonne,
  2. 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. Having taken all the Treasure on Board their own Ships, and plundered their Prize of every Thing elſe they either wanted or liked, they let her go; ſhe not being able to continue her Voyage, returned back: […]
  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. I fought and conquer’d, yet have lost the prize.
  4. That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery. Cecil Rhodes […] was never tired of impressing upon one that the fact of being an Englishman was “the greatest prize in the lottery of life,” and that it was that thought which always sustained him when he was troubled.
  5. Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
  6. obsolete A contest for a reward; competition. Like one of two contending in a prize, That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes […]
  7. A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever.

prize²

Where it comes from

From Middle English prysen, borrowed from Old French preisier (“to set a price or value on, esteem, value”), from pris (“price”), from Latin pretium (“price, value”), whence price; see also praise, a doublet. Compare appraise, apprize.

verb prizes · prizing · prized

  1. To consider highly valuable; to esteem. […] I Beyond all limit of what else i’ the world Do love, prize, honour you.
  2. obsolete To set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to rate. […] no life, I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour,
  3. To move with a lever; to force up or open; to prise or pry. ‘Find some other black boxes to prize open.’
  4. obsolete To compete in a prizefight.

prize³

adjective

  1. not comparable Having won a prize; award-winning. a prize vegetable
  2. not comparable First-rate; exceptional. He was a prize fool.

prize⁴

Where it comes from

Alternative forms.

noun prizes

  1. obsolete Obsolete form of price.price My prizes – for a head is thirty five Guineas – As far as the Knees seventy – and for a whole-length one hundred and fifty.

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