Prize word meaning and definition

[noun] something given as a token of victory
[noun] goods or money obtained illegally
[noun] something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition; "the prize was a free trip to Europe"
[adjective] of superior grade; "choice wines"; "prime beef"; "prize carnations"; "quality paper"; "select peaches"
[verb] regard highly; think much of
[verb] to move or force, esp. in an effort to get something open; "The burglar jimmied the lock", "Raccoons managed to pry the lid off the garbage pail"
[verb] hold dear; "I prize these old photographs"

\Prize\, n. [F. prise a seizing, hold, grasp, fr. pris, p. p. of prendre to take, L. prendere, prehendere; in some senses, as 2
(b), either from, or influenced by, F. prix price. See {Prison}, {Prehensile}, and cf. {Pry}, and also {Price}.] 1. That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power. I will depart my pris, or may prey, by deliberation. --Chaucer. His own prize, Whom formerly he had in battle won. --Spenser. 2. Hence, specifically;
(a) (Law) Anything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; esp., property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel. --Kent. --Brande & C.
(b) An honor or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort. I'll never wrestle for prize more. --Shak. I fought and conquered, yet have lost the prize. --Dryden.
(c) That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery. 3. 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. --Phil. iii. 14. 4. A contest for a reward; competition. [Obs.] --Shak. 5. A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever. [Written also {prise}.] {Prize court}, a court having jurisdiction of all captures made in war on the high seas. --Bouvier. {Prize fight}, an exhibition contest, esp. one of pugilists, for a stake or wager. {Prize fighter}, one who fights publicly for a reward; -- applied esp. to a professional boxer or pugilist. --Pope. {Prize fighting}, fighting, especially boxing, in public for a reward or wager. {Prize master}, an officer put in charge or command of a captured vessel. {Prize medal}, a medal given as a prize. {Prize money}, a dividend from the proceeds of a captured vessel, etc., paid to the captors. {Prize ring}, the ring or inclosure for a prize fight; the system and practice of prize fighting. {To make prize of}, to capture. --Hawthorne.
\Prize\, v. t. To move with a lever; to force up or open; to pry. [Written also {prise}.]
\Prize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prized}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prizing}.] [F. priser, OF. prisier, preisier, fr. L. pretiare, fr. pretium worth, value, price. See {Price}, and cf. {Praise}.] [Formerly written also {prise}. ] 1. To set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to rate. A goodly price that I was prized at. --Zech. xi. 13. I prize it [life] not a straw, but for mine honor. --Shak. 2. To value highly; to estimate to be of great worth; to esteem. ``[I] do love, prize, honor you. '' --Shak. I prized your person, but your crown disdain. --Dryden.
\Prize\, n. [F. prix price. See 3d {Prize}. ] Estimation; valuation. [Obs.] --Shak.

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