exemplum

American  

[ig-zem-pluhm] / ɪgˈzɛm pləm /

noun

exempla plural

1. an example or model.

2. an anecdote that illustrates or supports a moral point, as in a medieval sermon.

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exemplum British  

/ ɪɡˈzɛmpləm /

noun

1. an anecdote that supports a moral point or sustains an argument, used esp in medieval sermons

2. an example or illustration

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• exempla
  plural

Etymology

Origin of exemplum

1885–90; < Late Latin, Latin: literally, a pattern, model, copy