principal diagonal

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noun

Mathematics. See under diagonal (def. 9).

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Origin of principal diagonal

First recorded in 1960–65

The young man weaves through clusters of bamboo and cuts a diagonal slash into a tree, positioning a hollow log at the end.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The leak suggests that Mr. Obama remains blind to the principal cause of his foreign policy woes.
Before Ditching His Top Aides, Obama Should Look in the Mirror|Leslie H. Gelb|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Spire rests on the same basic principal as the old-school fountains.
Font of Invention||September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But younger members of the community who encountered the man as a principal had a different tale to tell.
This 'Holy Guy'—and Grandfather of 100—Is Accused of Sexually Abusing a Student|Batya Ungar-Sargon|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He recalled one event, when he was playing with a friend, Areah, when the principal came outside and found them.
This 'Holy Guy'—and Grandfather of 100—Is Accused of Sexually Abusing a Student|Batya Ungar-Sargon|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is the first and principal point at which we can stanch the wastage of teaching energy that now goes on.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
"The Smoker," and "Mother and Daughter," a triptych, are two of her principal pictures.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
It is the principal waste-product of metabolism, and constitutes about one-half of all the solids excreted—about 30 gm.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The principal room or "hall" will accommodate about 1,000 persons, the remaining portion of the premises being let off in offices.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
Thomas Barnes, principal editor of the Times newspaper, died in London, aged 56.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell