paragon

plural paragons

1. A person of preeminent qualities, who acts as a pattern or model for others.First known use 16th c.

   In the novel, Constanza is a paragon of virtue who would never compromise her reputation.

   5 more examples

   What a piece of worke is man! how Noble in Reaſon? […] the beauty of the world, the Parragon of Animals;

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 262, column 2

   That thou might'st cherish for thine own / The riches of sweet Mary's son, / Boy-Rabbi, Israel's paragon.

   1847, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Threnody”, in Poems, Boston, Mass.: James Munroe and Company, →OCLC, page 246

   Yes, there were instances of grandstanding and obsessive behaviour, but many were concealed at the time to help protect an aggressively peddled narrative of [Oscar] Pistorius the paragon, the emblem, the trailblazer.

   2014 October 21, Oliver Brown, “Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years – sport afforded no protection against his tragic fallibilities”, in The Daily Telegraph (Sport)

   Liz Cheney and her father are positioning themselves as protectors of the old order, as paragons of truth and as defenders of our American norms.

   2021 May 6, Charles M. Blow, “Liz Cheney, We Have a Memory. You’re No Hero.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   A paragon must embody liberal democracy. To get its hands dirty defending it is below-stairs.

   2023 February 11, Janan Ganesh, “After Germany’s fall, which is the paragon nation?”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 22

   Synonyms: archetype, epitome, example, exemplar, icon, model, paradigm, pattern

2. obsoleteA companion; a match; an equal.First known use 16th–19th c.

   Philoclea, who indeed had no paragon but her sister

   The New Arcadia

   a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC

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   Nathlesse proud man himselfe the other deemed, Having so peerlesse paragon ygot

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

3. obsoleteComparison; competition.First known use 16th–17th c.

   good by paragone / Of euill, may more notably be rad, / As white seemes fairer, macht with blacke attone […].

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

4. datedmediaThe size of type between great primer and double pica, standardized as 20-point.First known use 18th c.
5. gemmologyA flawless diamond of at least 100 carats.

   1 more example

   The "Koh-i-noor," or "Mountain of Light," is the eighth and smallest of these paragon diamonds (all diamonds weighing over a hundred carats are called Paragon); but it was originally the largest diamond ever known, weighing uncut 900 carats. . . this matchless gem of 900 carats which once belonged to the Great Mogul, and was the very paragon of paragons.

   November 1861, Anon ("E.L.L"), “Precious Stones”, in Temple Bar, volume III, page 377

present singular third person paragons · participle present paragoning · participle past paragoned · past paragoned

1. To compare; to parallel; to put in rivalry or emulation with.

   for want of a bigger , to paragon the little one with Artesia's length

   The New Arcadia

   a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC

2. To compare with; to equal; to rival.

   Few or none could for Feature paragon with her, and much less excel her.

   1612–1620, [Miguel de Cervantes], translated by Thomas Shelton, The History of the Valorous and Wittie Knight-errant Don-Quixote of the Mancha. […], London: […] William Stansby, for Ed[ward] Blount and W. Barret, →OCLC

   1 more example

   In arms anon to paragon the morn, / The morn new-riſing, whoſe vermillion hand / Draws from the bright'ning front of heav'n ſerene / The humid curtains of tempeſtuous night, / Mardonius mounts his courſer.

   a. 1786, [Richard Glover], “Book the Twenty-seventh”, in [Mrs. Halsey], editor, The Athenaid, a Poem, […], volume III, London: […] T[homas] Cadell, […], published 1787, →OCLC, page 192, lines 539–543

3. To serve as a model for; to surpass.

   He hath achieved a maid / That paragons description and wild fame.

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

4. To be equal; to hold comparison.