example

The story

1. Latin · derived fromexemplum“sample, pattern, specimen, copy for imitation, etc.”
2. Old French · derived fromexample
3. Middle English · inherited fromexample
4. English todayexample

From Middle English example, exaumple, from Old French example, essaumple, from Latin exemplum (“sample, pattern, specimen, copy for imitation, etc.”, literally “what is taken out”); see exempt. Doublet of exemplum and sample. Displaced native Middle English forebisne, from Old English forebȳsn; and Middle English bisne, from Old English bȳsn (modern English bizen).

Words from the same roots