Principal
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A principal is:
- The head of an institution. See Dean or School principal.
- A natural person or legal entity acting on its/his/her own behalf, not as an agent or surety.
- In finance, the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated. Also the amount still owed on a debt which has been partially paid, sometime also called remaining principal or outstanding balance.
- In Access Control, an entity with some authentication credentials. This is distinct from groups which are collections of principals (and other groups).
- Fundamental stop on a pipe organ. Good pipe organs usually have several principals.