principal parts

American  

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a set of inflected forms of a form class from which all the other inflected forms can be derived, as sing, sang, sung; smoke, smoked.

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principal parts British  

plural noun

1. grammar the main inflected forms of a verb, from which all other inflections may be deduced. In English they are generally considered to consist of the third person present singular, present participle, past tense, and past participle

2. the sides and interior angles of a triangle

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Etymology

Origin of principal parts

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Kouatchou’s Christine is the last of the three principal parts in Broadway’s “Phantom” to break the color barrier.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 11, 2021

The backup actors in “Come From Away,” meanwhile, are all credited as “standbys” for the various roles they understudy, all of which are considered principal parts.

From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2017

She also played Matron "Mama" Morton, making history as the first actress to play all three female principal parts.

From US News • Nov. 17, 2015

Last year, she played Matron “Mama” Morton, making history as the first actress to play all three female principal parts.

From Washington Times • Nov. 20, 2014

The principal parts in "Ulysse" were filled by Mademoiselle Judith, Messieurs Geffroy, Delaunay, and Maubant, Mademoiselle Nathalie, and others.

From Autobiographical Reminiscences with Family Letters and Notes on Music by Gounod, Charles