I. igˈzampəl, eg-, -zaam-, -zaim-, -zȧm- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English exaumple, from Middle French example, exemple, alteration (influenced by Latin exemplum ) of essample, essemple, from Latin exemplum, from eximere to take out, remove, from ex- ex- (I) + -imere to take (from emere to buy, obtain) — more at redeem
1. : a particular single item, fact, incident, or aspect that may be taken fairly as typical or representative of all of a group or type
a most outstanding example of a war fought with a purpose was our own American Revolution — Wendell Willkie
2.
a. : a pattern or representative action or series of actions tending or intended to induce one to imitate or emulate
we make the mistake of thinking that all can be done by precept, when … example is no less potent a force — A.C.Benson
b. : a pattern of action that by its ill result should discourage emulation
learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example , how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge — Mary W. Shelley
— often used with a qualifying adjective (as bad )
3. : a parallel or closely similar case, incident, or item especially when serving as a precedent or model
such temperate order in so fierce a cause doth want example — Shakespeare
4.
a. : an incident or situation in which one individual's punishment or plight may serve to admonish others
b. : an individual so punished
to make an example of a malingering soldier
5. : an instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate a rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of the rules of any study or branch of science
in mathematics problems assigned are examples designed to test and apply rules previously learned
we have 10 examples in our homework
Synonyms: see instance , model
•
- for example
II. transitive verb
( exampled ; exampled ; exampling -p(ə)liŋ ; examples )
Etymology: Middle English exemplen, exaumplen, from Middle French exempler, from Late Latin exemplare, from Latin exemplum
1.
a. : to serve or use as an example of, for, or to — used in the passive
his novel writing, best exampled in the somewhat cruel satire — Fanny Butcher
their spirit may be exampled by the way they help one another
b. archaic : to be or set an example to : teach through example
2. obsolete : to constitute a precedent for : parallel , match
I may example my digression by some mighty precedent — Shakespeare