paragon

[ par-uh-gon, -guhn ]

noun

1. a model or pattern of excellence or of a particular excellence:

   a paragon of virtue.

   Synonyms: paradigm, exemplar, example, quintessence, epitome, standard, ideal

2. someone of exceptional merit:

   Just who is this paragon whose name is on everyone's lips?

   Synonyms: nonpareil, nonesuch

3. Printing. a 20-point type.
4. an unusually large, round pearl.

verb (used with object)

1. Rare. to compare; parallel.
2. Archaic. to be a match for; rival.
3. Obsolete. to surpass.
4. Obsolete. to regard as a paragon.

paragon

/ ˈpærəɡən /

noun

1. a model of excellence; pattern

   a paragon of virtue

2. a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 20 point

verb

1. archaic.
   1. to equal or surpass
   2. to compare
   3. to regard as a paragon

Other Words From

• para·gonless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paragon¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French paragon, parangon “model,” from Old Italian paragone “touchstone,” from paragonare “to compare, test on a touchstone,” from Greek parakonân “to sharpen, whet,” equivalent to para- “beside, alongside” + akonân “to sharpen, whet,” a derivative of akónē “whetstone, bone”

Word History and Origins

Origin of paragon¹

C16: via French from Old Italian paragone comparison, from Medieval Greek parakonē whetstone, from Greek parakonan to sharpen against, from para- ¹+ akonan to sharpen, from akonē whetstone

Example Sentences

First by posing as the paragon of Israeli security, then by sufficiently polarizing Israeli society to sabotage coalition negotiations being undertaken by his various rivals.

From Time

It is going to “ruin” college sports, as if the enterprise is a paragon of purity.

From Washington Post

As with so many self-professed paragons of strategy and masculinity, the man who advertised himself routinely as “virile, vigorous and potent” was most famous for underperforming.

From Washington Post

Plenty of liberal-leaning shows aren’t paragons of truth either, but they haven’t been banned.

From ProPublica

The 151-year-old sport of college football has never been a paragon of parity, but its imbalance might be growing more imbalanced.

From Washington Post

The Ralph Retort, a paragon of ethical journalism websites, decided to make crowdsourcing stuff to discredit me into a project.

From The Daily Beast

Paragon of virtue Oliver North called for charges to be filed against Warner Brothers Music.

From The Daily Beast

While Bacall seems like a paragon of cool confidence in the final product, she was a nervous wreck on set.

From The Daily Beast

The man who holds ABC/ESPN's wacky goulash of World Cup punditry together strikes viewers as a paragon of congeniality.

From The Daily Beast

He was a paragon of masculinity—a tall, dark, and impossibly handsome enigma.

From The Daily Beast

Presently I enquired when she proposed to introduce this paragon to the person responsible for him.

From Project Gutenberg

I recall the case of a gentleman whose reputation was that of a paragon of all the virtues.

From Project Gutenberg

Olga, a paragon of maids, if references and experience count, showed no signs of the wear and tear of previous mistresses.

From Project Gutenberg

Alice Turner was engaged also, and certainly very much in love if she considered the young man a paragon.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he thought bitterly upon that paragon of perfection who had caused his banishment.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apotheosis
• epitome
• exemplar