exemplification
Americannoun
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the act of exemplifying.
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something that exemplifies; an illustration or example.
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Law. an attested copy of a document, under official seal.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exemplification
1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin exemplificātiōn- (stem of exemplificātiō ) a setting forth, equivalent to exemplificāt ( us ) (past participle of exemplificāre to exemplify ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
An exemplification is an illustration or classic example of something. Breaking into loud, operatic singing at the breakfast table might be the perfect exemplification of your family's strange sense of humor. The grace and beauty of a ballerina dancing on a stage is an exemplification of the principles of ballet itself — in other words, she is a living example of what ballet should be. When you illustrate something this way, by showing a concrete example, you exemplify. And the act of using that example is exemplification. The Latin source of both words is exemplum, "example or model."
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
