Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - prize

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English pris ~, price — more at price  Date: 14th century  1. something offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance; also premium 1d  2. something exceptionally desirable  3. archaic a contest for a reward ; competition  II. adjective  Date: 1803  1.  a. awarded or worthy of a ~  b. awarded as a ~  c. entered for the sake of a ~ a ~ drawing  2. outstanding of a kind raised ~ hogs  III. transitive verb  (~d; prizing)  Etymology: Middle English prisen, from Anglo-French priser, preiser to appraise, esteem, from Late Latin pretiare, from Latin pretium price, value — more at price  Date: 14th century  1. to estimate the value of ; rate  2. to value highly ; esteem a ~d possession  Synonyms: see appreciate  IV. noun  Etymology: Middle English prise, from Anglo-French, taking, seizure, from prendre to take, from Latin prehendere — more at get  Date: 14th century  1. something taken by force, stratagem, or threat; especially property lawfully captured at sea in time of war  2. an act of capturing or taking; especially the wartime capture of a ship and its cargo at sea  Synonyms: see spoil  V. transitive verb  (~d; prizing)  Etymology: ~ lever  Date: 1686 to press, force, or move with a lever ; pry