Dictionary: “元”

originally;from the start;from the beginning;from the outset;by nature

originator;pioneer;inventor;founder

originally;essentially;naturally;by nature;really;actually

sovereign;ruler;head of state

first year (of an imperial era)

elder statesman;doyen;old-timer;authority

element;chemical element

principal (invest.);capital

ringleader;main culprit

Genroku era (1688.9.30-1704.3.13)

capital;principal

name of an imperial era (e.g. Heisei, Shōwa);Japanese era name

lively;full of spirit;energetic;vigorous;vital;spirited

New Year's Day

(field) marshal;(fleet) admiral;general of the army

basis;base;foundation;root

(classical) element (e.g. earth, water, air, fire)

genrō (member of a pre-WWII body that informally advised the emperor)

none the worse (for);(coming out) even;in the same position (as before)

progenitor;primogenitor;founder of a family line

healthy;well;fit;in good health

in the first place;to begin with

year something (important) first happened or began

main cause;source

cause

origin;source

(raw) material;ingredient;base;mix (e.g. for a cake);(soup) stock

(one's) side

capital;principal;cost price

root (of a plant);(tree) trunk

part (of a brush, chopsticks, etc.) one holds (with the hand)

first three lines of a waka

as before;as ever;as it was originally

New Year's Day;first day of the year

manager;controller;administrator

from the beginning;from the first;all along;originally

capital;funds;seed money

ledger

principal and interest

chief treasurer

of course

New Year's morning;morning of New Year's Day

asset

boss (of a gambling den)

not to mention ...;not only ... but also ...;to say nothing of ...

Genkyū era (1204.2.20-1206.4.27)

Genki era (1570.4.23-1573.7.28)

New Year's period (January 1 to 3)

ending up right back where one started