n. & v.
n. 1 a thing characteristic of its kind or illustrating a general rule. 2 a person, thing, or piece of conduct, regarded in terms of its fitness to be imitated (must set him an example; you are a bad example). 3 a circumstance or treatment seen as a warning to others; a person so treated (shall make an example of you). 4 a problem or exercise designed to illustrate a rule.
v.tr. (usu. in passive) serve as an example of. for example by way of illustration.
[ ME f. OF f. L exemplum (as EXEMPT) ]