CAPITAL

Definitions

1. 1. Of or pertaining to the head. [Obs.] Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise Expect with mortal pain. Milton.
2. 2. Having reference to, or involving, the forfeiture of the head or life; affecting life; punishable with death; as, capital trials; capital punishment. Many crimes that are capital among us. Swift. To put to death a capital offender. Milton.
3. 3. First in importance; chief; principal. A capital article in religion Atterbury. Whatever is capital and essential in Christianity. I. Taylor.
4. 4. Chief, in a political sense, as being the seat of the general government of a state or nation; as, Washington and Paris are capital cities.
5. 5. Of first rate quality; excellent; as, a capital speech or song. [Colloq.]