paragon
- 01 C2 Proficiency
n.a person or thing that is a perfect example of a good quality.
n.a person or thing viewed as a model of excellence or a perfect embodiment of a particular virtue.
Simple“The local library was considered a paragon of modern design and efficiency.”
In context“In the Victorian era, she was often held up as a paragon of virtue and domestic propriety by the local press.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of'.
Antonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a very large, perfect diamond that weighs at least 100 carats.
n.a flawless diamond weighing at least 100 carats.
Simple“The museum displayed a rare paragon that had once belonged to a king.”
In context“The auction house announced the sale of a 102-carat paragon, expected to break previous records for colorless stones.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a specific size of old printing letters, about 20 points big.
n.a size of type between great primer and double pica, standardized as 20-point.
Simple“The old book was printed in paragon type to make it easier to read.”
In context“The historian noted that the 18th-century manuscript utilized paragon for the headers to distinguish them from the body text.”
Synonymstypefont size - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to compare someone to another person, or to be just as good as them.
v.to compare, parallel, or serve as a model for; to equal or surpass in quality.
Simple“No other athlete could paragon his speed on the track.”
In context“The poet sought to paragon the beauty of the landscape with the grace of his beloved in the final stanza.”
UsageThis verb use is rare in modern English and is typically found in Renaissance literature.
From Anglo-Norman paragone, peragone, Middle French paragon, from Italian paragone (“comparison”) or Spanish parangón, from Byzantine Greek παρακόνη (parakónē, “whetstone”), from Ancient Greek παρακονάω (parakonáō, “I sharpen, whet”), from παρά (pará) + ἀκόνη (akónē, “whetstone”) (from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- (“sharp”)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.