n.
Pronunciation: ' per- ə - ˌ gän, -g ə n, ' pa-r ə -
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Old Italian paragone, literally, touchstone, from paragonare to test on a touchstone, from Greek parakonan to sharpen, from para- + akon ē whetstone, from ak ē point; akin to Greek akm ē point ― more at EDGE
Date: circa 1548
: a model of excellence or perfection