Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Prize

Prize (prīz) , noun

[French prise a seizing, hold, grasp, from pris, past participle of prendre to take, Latin prendere, prehendere; in some senses, as 2 (b), either from, or influenced by, French prix price. See Prison, Prehensile, and compare 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.
(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.
(b)
(Law) 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. — Kent
I'll never wrestle for prize more. — Shakespeare
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. [Obsolete] — Shakespeare
5.
A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever.
Collocations (9)
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 , transitive verb

To move with a lever; to force up or open; to pry.

Prize , transitive verb

[French priser, Old French prisier, preisier, from Latin pretiare, from pretium worth, value, price. See Price, and compare Praise.]

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. — Shakespeare
2.
To value highly; to estimate to be of great worth; to esteem.
[I] do love, prize, honor you. — Shakespeare
I prized your person, but your crown disdain. — Dryden

Prize , noun

[French prix price. See 3d Prize. ]

Estimation; valuation. [Obsolete] — Shakespeare