Etymograph

English

exemplar

Exemplar comes from Latin exemplar ‘model, pattern, example, original or ideal’.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEexemplar‘model, pattern, example, original or ideal’
  2. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600exemplair
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500exempler
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1539exemplar

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEexemplar‘model, pattern, example, original or ideal’
  2. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600exemplair
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500exempler
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1539exemplar

Earliest quotation: 1539, Richard Taverner, Preface: “To amend the same [default] according to the true…”

Linked words

through Latin exemplum ‘example’

example, sample, 4 more

through Latin exemplāris ‘exemplary’

sampler, 1 more

Today it means

noun Something fit to be imitated; an ideal, a worthy model or role model: a desirable example.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin exemplar / exemplar

Shirt and support for this word