The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Prize \Prize\, v. t.
   To move with a lever; to force up or open; to pry. [Written
   also prise.]
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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. ]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to
      rate.
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            A goodly price that I was prized at.  --Zech. xi.
                                                  13.
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            I prize it [life] not a straw, but for mine honor.
                                                  --Shak.
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   2. To value highly; to estimate to be of great worth; to
      esteem. "[I] do love, prize, honor you. " --Shak.
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            I prized your person, but your crown disdain.
                                                  --Dryden.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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.]
       [1913 Webster]

   1. That which is taken from another; something captured; a
      thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power.
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            I will depart my pris, or my prey, by deliberation.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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            His own prize,
            Whom formerly he had in battle won.   --Spenser.
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   2. Hence, specifically;
      (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. --Kent.
          --Brande & C.
      (b) 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.
          [1913 Webster]

                I'll never wrestle for prize more. --Shak.
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                I fought and conquered, yet have lost the prize.
                                                  --Dryden.
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      (c) That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery.
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   3. Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or
      in prospect.
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            I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
            calling of God in Christ Jesus.       --Phil. iii.
                                                  14.
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   4. A contest for a reward; competition. [Obs.] --Shak.
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   5. A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever. [Written also
      prise.]
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   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.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Prize \Prize\, n. [F. prix price. See 3d Prize. ]
   Estimation; valuation. [Obs.] --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

prize
    adj 1: of superior grade; "choice wines"; "prime beef"; "prize
           carnations"; "quality paper"; "select peaches" [syn:
           choice, prime(a), prize, quality, select]
    n 1: 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: prize, award]
    2: goods or money obtained illegally [syn: loot, booty,
       pillage, plunder, prize, swag, dirty money]
    3: something given as a token of victory [syn: trophy,
       prize]
    v 1: hold dear; "I prize these old photographs" [syn: prize,
         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,
       prize, lever, jimmy]
    3: regard highly; think much of; "I respect his judgement"; "We
       prize his creativity" [syn: respect, esteem, value,
       prize, prise] [ant: disesteem, disrespect]