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Commonly used synonyms for principle are (originative) "source" or "beginning".

Commonly used synonyms for principle are (originative) "source" or "beginning".

For example, in some senses a "[[nature]]" is the ''source'' of a thing's action, a "[[substance]]" is the source of a thing's materiality and an "[[essence]]" is the ''source'' of a thing's being.

For example, in some senses a "[[nature]]" is the ''source'' of a thing's action, a "[[substance]]" is the source of a thing's materiality and an "[[essence]]" is the source of a thing's being.  And there are "accidental" principles that are not the source of a thing's properties but are simply able to co-exist in the principled subject.  Likewise, there must be "non-accidental" or what might be called "[[property|propertorial]]" principles that ''are'' consequential on the existence of a thing.

A "[[cause]]" is a kind of principle, but the meaning of ''principle'' can be broader than "cause" in at least two ways.  Firstly, a principle can be a "deprivation" in the sense of the absence of a thing understood to be present by nature.  An example could be the absence of a woman's eye, of which could be spoken as a principle of a prevention of a cause.

A "[[cause]]" is a kind of principle, but the meaning of ''principle'' can be broader than "cause" in at least two ways.  Firstly, a principle can be a "deprivation" in the sense of the absence of a thing understood to be present by nature.  Thomas Aquinas describes this as an "accidental principle". An example could be the absence of a woman's eye, of which could be spoken as a principle of a prevention of a cause.

Secondly, in Christian theology, the [[Son of God]] and [[Holy Spirit]] were not created but are said to have God the Father as their "source" or principle.

Secondly, in Christian theology, the [[Son of God]] and [[Holy Spirit]] were not created but are said to have God the Father as their "source" or principle.