prize

Definitions

From Old French pris ('value, worth') — the same source as price. A prize is literally 'a thing of value' awarded to a winner. The verb keeps the raw root meaning: to prize something is to treat it as valuable. So 'win a prize' and 'a prized possession' are one idea: worth.

Why It Means This

Prize and price are doublets — two English words from the same Old French pris, one keeping the 'reward of value' sense, the other the plain 'cost' sense. The verb 'to prize' is the most direct: it simply means to value highly, exactly what pretium is about.

Common Collocations

• 1.win a prize赢得奖品
• 2.first prize一等奖
• 3.prize money奖金
• 4.a prized possession珍视的财物
• 5.prize-winning获奖的

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She won first prize in the national piano competition.

• 2.

  He prizes his independence above almost everything else.

• 3.

  The old watch is one of her most prized possessions.

• 4.

  They entered their prize roses in the village show.

Easily Confused

prize vs prise (BrE) — totally different word: 'prise open' (to force open with a lever) is unrelated to prize and spelled prize in AmE, which can confuse. Also prize vs price: prize = reward/value highly; price = cost.