▪ I. exemplar, n.
(ɛgˈzɛmplə(r))
Forms: 4–5 exemplaire, -ayre, 5–6 exemplare, 5– exemplar.
[ME. exemplaire, a. OF. exemplaire: see examplar. The mod. form is partly a descendant of this, partly an adoption of L. exemplar, -āre, n., orig. neut. of exemplāris adj.: see next.]
1. A person or thing which serves as a model for imitation; an example. Formerly also, † a pattern for work: cf. sampler.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 5 In this tyme..thexemplares of acciones spectable scholde not be patent. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xi. (1890) 41 [Nature] hathe produced hym [Aeneas] for to make one fayer chief werke to thexemplayre of alle other. 1530 Palsgr. 157 Vne exemple, an exemplar for a woman to worke by. 1549 Latimer Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 109 Christ is the..patrone and the exemplar, that all preachers oughte to folowe. 1694 Pomfret Poems, Death Q. Mary 128 Him for her high exemplar she design'd. 1744 Epitaph in Brand Hist. Newcastle (1789) I. 676 His Master's presence will reward..his virtues by a more intimate converse with the great Exemplar. 1793 T. Maurice Ind. Antiq. (1806) I. 105 It is impossible for the artist to deviate from the exemplar before him. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 25 The Republic is..the pattern of all other states and the exemplar of human life. |
† b. = example 3 b. Obs. rare—1.
| 1393 Gower Conf. II. 31 Fulfilled of slouthes exemplaire There is yet one his secretaire, And he is cleped negligence. |
2. The model, pattern, or original after which something is made; an archetype whether real or ideal.
| a 1618 Raleigh (J.), The idea and exemplar of the world was first in God. 1651 Raleigh's Ghost 158 Christ was like to Moses, as..the Exemplar, or Sample [is] to the image. 1725 Watts Logic i. iii. §3 Real ideas are such as..have real objects or exemplars, which did, or do..actually exist. 1829 Jas. Mill Hum. Mind (1869) I. viii. 251 The external exemplars according to which individual things were made. 1882 Farrar Early Chr. I. 269 A spiritual world, which was the archetype and exemplar of the visible. |
3. An instance, example; a parallel instance, a parallel.
| 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. i. i. 26 It doth give me not only an undeniable evidence, but an exemplar in analogy and explication. 1863 Geo. Eliot Romola i. vi, Those frivolous productions of which Luigi Pulci has furnished the most peccant exemplar. 1866 H. Phillips Amer. Paper Curr. II. 11 Modern history is not wanting in exemplars. |
4. A typical instance; a type, specimen (of a class); a typical embodiment or personification (of a quality, system, etc.).
| 1656 Sanderson Serm. (1689) 131 There is scarce to be found such another complete Exemplar of a wicked Magistrate [as Caius Verres]. c 1676 South Serm. Worldly Wisd. (1715) I. 340 Cromwell..the..grand Exemplar of Hypocrisy. 1744 Harris Three Treat. iii. ii. (1765) 216 An Offer to paint them a Helen, as a Model and Exemplar of the most exquisite Beauty. 1812 Woodhouse Astron. xxiv. 258 A kind of sample and exemplar of almost all Astronomical processes. 1837 Thirlwall Greece IV. xxxv. 361 Sisyphus, the legendary exemplar of cunning. 1862 Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. xvii. 323 They are the true exemplars of the grasping and worldly clergy of all ages. 1868 Helps Realmah xii. (1876) 309 The friendship between a dog and a man is the highest form and exemplar of friendship. |
5. A ‘copy’ of a book, etc.
| 1539 Taverner Bible Pref., To amend the same [default] according to the true exemplars. 1570 Billingsley Euclid xv. Introd. 431 In the Greke exemplars are found in this 15. booke only 5 propositions. 1665 Phil. Trans. I. 102 His second Tome, whereof he lately presented some Exemplars to his Friends. 1864 Hazlitt E.P. Poetry IV. 1 Many pamphlets..remain to us only in a single exemplar. 1875 Scrivener Lect. Grk. Test. i 4 All exemplars of the same edition resemble each other. |
▪ II. † eˈxemplar, a. Obs.
Also 5 exemplair(e, 7 exemplare.
[ad. (either through F. exemplaire or directly) L. exemplār-is (see -ar1), f. exemplum.]
1. Typical; = exemplary a. 2.
| 1570 Dee Math. Pref. 3 The Exemplar Number of all thinges Numerable. a 1668 Davenant To the Queen Poems (1673) 246 That Sand's th'exemplar Seed, by which we know How th' Hour's of the ensuing Year will grow. |
2. Of a penalty; = exemplary a. 3.
| 1588 R. Parke tr. Mendoza's China 92 Coockoldes..are punished with exemplar punishments. 1626 T. H. Caussin's Holy Crt. 414 If he were found culpable of such a villany, he would inflict an exemplar punishment vpon him. 1639 G. Daniel Ecclus. xix. 10 He shall be worne with ranke Infirmities, Corrupt, and made Exemplar to the Eyes Of other Men. 1656 Cowley Davideis iv. 120 Ely's curs'd House th' exemplar Vengeance bears Of all their Blood. |
3. Likely to become an example or precedent; extraordinary, flagrant; = exemplary a. 4.
| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xxiii. §6 One judicial and exemplar iniquity in the face of the world doth trouble the fountains of justice more than [etc.]. a 1634 Chapman Rev. Honour Wks. (1873) III. 331 That which on others would be fitting justice, On..your..son wil be exemplar crueltie. |
4. = exemplary 6.
| c 1475 Partenay 6377 Thys lady full swete and ryght debonair, To all other lades exemplair. a 1500 Flower & Leaf lxxii, The nine crowned be very exemplaire, Of all honour longing to chivalry. 1603 Florio Montaigne (1634) 3 Having with an unmatched countenance and exemplar constancie endured these two affronts. 1621 Donne Serm. xxi. 205 Exemplar men that might be our patterns for sobriety. 1683 Lond. Gaz. No. 1864/1 Your Exemplar and happy Government in Church and State. 1706 De Foe Jure Div. xii. 273 Exemplar Vertue took the Reins in Hand. 1739 ‘R. Bull’ tr. Grobianus 39 Like his thy Life, like his thy Manners be; And shine exemplar to Posterity. |
b. Having the force of an example.
| 1642 Chas. I. Answ. Petit. Lds. & Com. 17 June 6 The Fidelity..of His good Subjects of this County, which He hopes will prove exemplar over His whole Kingdom. |
Hence † eˈxemplarly adv., by means of example; in an exemplary or signal manner.
| 1626 T. H. Caussin's Holy Crt. (1634) A ij b, A Pious Queene, who exemplarly maketh good, what diffusedly is heere handled. 1676 W. Row Contn. Blair's Autobiog. xii. (1848) 413 Duty which lieth..more eminently and exemplarly on the Ministers of the Gospel. |