Epitome: (n) a person or thing that is the perfect example of a particular quality of type
early 16th century: via Latin from Greek epitomē, from epitemnein 'abridge', from epi'in addition' + temnein 'to cut'
Ex. She was the epitome of evil
Archetype: (n) a very typical example of a certain person or thing
mid 16th century: via Latin from Greek arkhetupon 'something molded first as a model', from arkhe- 'primitive' + tupos 'a model'
Ex. That book is a perfect archetype of that genre.
Classic: (adj) remarkably and instructively typical
early 17th century: from French classique or Latin classicus 'belonging to a class or division', later 'of the highest class', from classis
Ex. I had all the classic symptoms of the flu.
Example: (n) a thing characteristic of its kind or illustrating a general rule
late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin exemplum, from eximere 'take out', from ex- 'out' + emere 'take'.
Ex. These works of art are final examples of the Romantic period.
Typical: (adj) having the distinctive qualities of a particular type of person or thing
early 17th century: from medieval Latin typicalis, via Latin from Greek tupikos, from tupos
Ex. When the driver merged across two lanes of traffic, my dad muttered “typical woman”.
Model: (n) a system or thing used as an example to follow or imitate
late 16th century (denoting a set of plans of a building): from French modelle, fromItalian modello, from an alteration of Latin modulu
Ex. He was a model of excellence
Standard: (n) a level of quality or attainment
Middle English (denoting a flag raised on a pole as a rallying point, the authorized exemplar of a unit of measurement, or an upright timber): shortening of Old Frenchestendart, from estendre 'extend';
Ex. We have a high standard of performance at this school.
Prototype: (n) a first, typical or preliminary model of something, especially a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied.
late 16th century (denoting the original of which something else is a copy or derivative): via French or late Latin fromGreek prōtotupos
Ex. The team is building this Robotics season’s prototype this weekend.
Paradigm: (n) a typical pattern or example of something; a model
late 15th century: via late Latin from Greek paradeigma, from paradeiknunai 'show side by side', from para- 'beside' +deiknunai 'to show'
Ex. There is a new paradigm for artful sculpture in the US.
Paragon: (n) a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality
mid 16th century: from obsolete French, from Italian paragone 'touchstone used to discriminate good (gold) from bad', from medieval Greek parakonē 'whetstone'
Ex. It would have required a paragon of virtue not to feel jealous at that.
Quintessence: (n) the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class
late Middle English (as a term in philosophy): via French from medieval Latin quinta essentia 'fifth essence'
She was the quintessence of business professionalism.
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