capital

capital

---

Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "capital" is /ˈkæpɪtəl/.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:

• cap-: /kæp/

• i-: /ɪ/

• tal: /təl/

---

Word Form Variations

• Noun:

• Singular: capital

• Plural: capitals

• Adjective: capital (does not typically have plural forms, but can be used with plural nouns, e.g., "capital cities")

---

---

Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

• Definition 1: The most important city or town of a country or region, usually its seat of government and administrative center.

• Synonyms: metropolis, chief city, governmental seat

• Antonyms: village, hamlet, suburb

• Definition 2: Wealth in the form of money or other assets owned by a person or organization or available for investment or starting a company.

• Synonyms: funds, assets, resources, money, wealth, principal

• Antonyms: debt, liabilities, deficit

• Definition 3: A large letter (upper case), as opposed to a small letter (lower case).

• Synonyms: upper case letter, majuscule

• Antonyms: lower case letter, minuscule

• Definition 4: The top part or crowning member of a column, pilaster, or pier, upon which the architrave rests.

• Synonyms: finial, crown, head, summit

• Antonyms: base, foundation, pedestal

Adjective

• Definition 1: Pertaining to or constituting a crime punishable by death.

• Synonyms: mortal, deadly, lethal, punishable by death

• Antonyms: minor, venial, trivial

• Definition 2: Excellent, prime, or first-rate. Often used informally.

• Synonyms: excellent, superb, splendid, outstanding, first-class

• Antonyms: poor, inferior, terrible, substandard

• Definition 3: Of chief importance or influence.

• Synonyms: principal, chief, primary, major, leading

• Antonyms: minor, secondary, subordinate, peripheral

---

 Examples of Use

• Books:

• "In Das Kapital, Karl Marx laid out his critique of political economy and capitalist society."

• "The novel described the sprawling architecture of the nation's capital, a city bustling with political intrigue."

• "She invested her life savings, a significant amount of capital, into the burgeoning tech startup."

• Newspapers:

• "The Wall Street Journal reported on the latest trends in venture capital funding for AI companies." (The Wall Street Journal)

• "Local residents are protesting the new development, citing a capital offense against environmental regulations."

• "The Nairobi Star ran an editorial discussing the importance of foreign capital investment in Kenya's economy." (The Nairobi Star)

• Online Publications:

• "TechCrunch highlighted how many startups struggle to raise seed capital in the current economic climate." (TechCrunch)

• "An article on The Verge discussed the new capital cities emerging in response to climate change and population shifts." (The Verge)

• "A blog post on Medium offered advice on how to start a small business with minimal capital."

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Television: "In an episode of House of Cards, the protagonist frequently traveled between Washington D.C. and his home state, showcasing the power dynamics of the capital."

• Film: "The movie Argo depicted the perilous escape from Tehran, the Iranian capital, during the hostage crisis."

• Music: "The song's lyrics referred to 'capital gains' as a symbol of economic success."

• Video Games: "Many grand strategy video games, like Civilization, require players to manage their city's capital resources and expand their empire from a capital city."

• General Public Discourse:

• "During a public debate, a politician stated, 'We need to attract more foreign capital to create jobs and boost our economy.'"

• "A tourist remarked, 'Paris is truly a capital city for art and culture.'"

• "A teacher reminded her students, 'Remember to start each sentence with a capital letter.'"

• "In a casual conversation, someone might exclaim, 'That's a capital idea!' when approving of a suggestion."

---

---

10 Quotes Using Capital

1. "Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital." (Abraham Lincoln, Annual Message to Congress, 1861)

2. "The capital punishment is the most premeditated of murders." (Albert Camus, Reflections on the Guillotine, 1957)

3. "Human capital is the most important factor in economic growth." (Gary Becker, Nobel Lecture, 1992)

4. "Knowledge is the most important capital of a country." (Li Keqiang, Speech at the World Economic Forum, 2014)

5. "The capital of a nation is its people, and their health and well-being are its greatest assets." (Gro Harlem Brundtland)

6. "The growth of capital is the growth of power." (John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy, 1848)

7. "The only capital I have is my brain." (Attributed to Thomas Edison)

8. "A nation's human capital is its greatest asset."

9. "The true capital of a country is its intellectual and moral worth." (Henry Ward Beecher)

10. "The capital of the world is the human heart."

---

Etymology

The word "capital" has a rich history, stemming from the Latin word "caput," which means "head." This "head" connection is key to understanding its many different meanings today.

Imagine a head: it's the top, the most important part, the source of thought and leadership. This core idea of "head" or "chief" is where "capital" began.

Its first known uses in English, dating back to the late 13th century, were often related to:

• The head of an animal: For instance, referring to the head part of livestock.

• A "chief" or "principal" thing: Meaning something that was most important or primary. This is where we get the idea of a "capital" city as the chief city, or "capital" letters as the chief or upper-case letters.

Over time, this root meaning of "head" or "chief" evolved. For example, when talking about money, "capital" came to mean the principal sum of money – the "head" amount that you invest, as opposed to the interest it earns. This financial sense developed in the mid-17th century. The idea of a "capital" crime, meaning one punishable by losing your "head" (i.e., death), also derives from this ancient root.

So, in essence, "capital" started as "of the head" and branched out to mean anything that is chief, principal, top, or fundamentally important, whether it's a city, a letter, a sum of money, or even a crime.

---

---

Phrases + Idioms Containing Capital

• Capital punishment: The legal authorization to kill someone as punishment for a crime.

• Capital letter: An uppercase letter of the alphabet.

• Capital city: The principal city or town of a country or region, typically its seat of government.

• Venture capital: Money invested in a new company, especially one involving a lot of risk.

• Human capital: The skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by an individual or population, viewed in terms of their value or cost to an organization or country.

• Social capital: The networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively.

• Fixed capital: The long-term assets of a business, such as land, buildings, and equipment.

• Working capital: The capital of a business that is used in its day-to-day trading operations, calculated as the current assets minus the current liabilities.

• To make capital out of something: To use a situation or event to one's own advantage.

• Capital gains: The profit from the sale of property or an investment.

• A capital idea! (Informal) An excellent idea!

• To put capital into something: To invest money or resources into a project or venture.

• Financial capital: Money or other assets available for use in the production of more assets.

• Intellectual capital: The combined knowledge, skills, and creativity of a company's employees.

• A capital fellow: (Dated, informal) An excellent or admirable person.

---

Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

---

Source Information

Definition of capital from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

---