[par.a.digm] n [LL paradigma, fr. Gk paradeigma, fr. paradeiknynai to show side by side, fr. para- + deiknynai to show--more at diction] (15c) 1: example, pattern; esp: an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype
2: an example of a conjugation or declension showing a word in all its inflectional forms
3: a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated -- par.a.dig.mat.ic adj -- par.a.dig.mat.i.cal.ly adv