What is "prize"

Prize \Prize\, n. [F. prix price. See 3d Prize. ] Estimation; valuation. [Obs.]
--Shak.

Prize \Prize\ (pr[imac]z), 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 my prey, by deliberation.
   --Chaucer.

   His own prize, Whom formerly he had in battle won.
   --Spenser.

2. Hence, specifically;

   1. (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.

   2. 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.

   3. 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. 1

4. 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 \Prize\, v. t. To move with a lever; to force up or open; to pry. [Written also prise.]

Prize \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.

"reward," prise (c.1300 in this sense), from Old French pris "price, value, worth; reward" (see price (n.)). As an adjective, "worthy of a prize," from 1803. The spelling with -z- is from late 16c. Prize-fighter is from 1703; prize-fight from 1730 (prize-fighter from 1785).

"something taken by force," mid-13c., prise "a taking, holding," from Old French prise "a taking, seizing, holding," noun use of fem. past participle of prendre "to take, seize," from Latin prendere, contraction of prehendere "lay hold of, grasp, seize, catch" (see prehensile). Especially of ships captured at sea (1510s). The spelling with -z- is from late 16c.

"to estimate," 1580s, alteration of Middle English prisen "to prize, value" (late 14c.), from stem of Old French preisier "to praise" (see praise (v.)). Related: Prized; prizing.

Etymology 1 n. 1 That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power. 2 (context military nautical English) Anything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; especially, property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel. 3 An honour or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort. 4 That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery. 5 Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect. 6 A contest for a reward; competition. 7 A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever. Also spelled prise. Etymology 2

vb. 1 To consider highly valuable; to esteem. 2 (context obsolete English) To set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to rate. 3 To move with a lever; to force up or open; to prise or pry. 4 (context obsolete English) To compete in a prizefight.

adj. of superior grade; "choice wines"; "prime beef"; "prize carnations"; "quality paper"; "select peaches" [syn: choice, prime(a), quality, select]

1. n. something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery; "the prize was a free trip to Europe" [syn: award]

2. goods or money obtained illegally [syn: loot, booty, pillage, plunder, swag, dirty money]

3. something given as a token of victory [syn: trophy]

1. v. hold dear; "I prize these old photographs" [syn: value, treasure, appreciate]

2. to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open; "The burglar jimmied the lock", "Raccoons managed to pry the lid off the garbage pail" [syn: pry, prise, lever, jimmy]

3. regard highly; think much of; "I respect his judgement"; "We prize his creativity" [syn: respect, esteem, value, prise] [ant: disrespect, disrespect]

A prize is an award to be given to a person, a group of people, or organization to recognise and reward actions or achievements. Official prizes often involve monetary rewards as well as the fame that comes with them. Some prizes are also associated with extravagant awarding ceremonies, such as the Academy Awards.

Prizes are also given to publicize noteworthy or exemplary behaviour, and to provide incentives for improved outcomes and competitive efforts. In general, prizes are regarded in a positive light, and their winners are admired. However, many prizes, especially the more famous ones, have often caused controversy and jealousy.

Specific types of prizes include:

• Booby prize: typically awarded as a joke or insult to whoever finished last (e.g., wooden spoon award).
• Consolation prize: an award given to those who do not win, but still (at least) recognized.
• Hierarchical prizes, where the best award is "first prize", "grand prize", or "gold medal". Subordinate awards are "second prize", "third prize", etc., or "first runner-up" and "second runner-up", etc., or "silver medal" and "bronze medal". (In some contests, "grand prize" is more desirable than "first prize".)
  • On game shows in the UK, the term is "star prize", while in Australia, it is "major prize".
• Purchase prize or acquisition prize: a monetary prize given in an art competition in exchange for the winning work.

Prize is a term used in admiralty law to refer to equipment, vehicles, vessels, and cargo captured during armed conflict. The most common use of prize in this sense is the capture of an enemy ship and its cargo as a prize of war. In the past, the capturing force would commonly be allotted a share of the worth of the captured prize. Nations often granted letters of marque that would entitle private parties to capture enemy property, usually ships. Once the ship was secured on friendly territory, it would be made the subject of a prize case, an in rem proceeding in which the court determined the status of the condemned property and the manner in which it was to be disposed of.

A prize is an award received for merit

Prize may also refer to:

Prizes are promotional items—small toys, games, trading cards, collectables, and other small items of nominal value—found in packages of brand-name retail products (or available from the retailer at the time of purchase) that are included in the price of the product (at no extra cost) with the intent to boost sales. Collectable prizes produced (and sometimes numbered) in series are used extensively—as a loyalty marketing program—in food, drink, and other retail products to increase sales through repeat purchases from collectors. Prizes have been distributed through bread, candy, cereal, chips, crackers, laundry detergent, margarine, popcorn, and soft drinks. The types of prizes have included comics, fortunes, jokes, key rings, magic tricks, models (made of paper or plastic), pin-back buttons, plastic mini-spoons, puzzles, riddles, stickers, temporary tattoos, tazos, trade cards, trading cards, and small toys (made from injection molded plastic, paper, cardboard, tin litho, ceramics, or pot metal). Prizes are sometimes referred to as "in-pack" premiums, although historically the word " premium" has been used to denote (as opposed to a prize) an item that is not packaged with the product and requires a proof of purchase and/or a small additional payment to cover shipping and/or handling charges.