Exemplary
/ɪɡˈzɛm.plə.ri/noun
Serving as a desirable model or example; outstandingly good.
Did you know?Exemplary ultimately traces back to Latin *exemplum*, originally a sample or pattern, from *eximere* meaning “to take out,” so the word began as something literally pulled out of the whole.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*em-
“to take, buy, distribute”
Latin
Latin
eximere
“to take out, remove”
Latin
Latin
exemplum
“a sample, copy, pattern, example”
Late Latin
Latin
exemplaris
“serving as a model or pattern”
Middle English
English
exemplarie
“serving as an example or model”
Modern English
English
exemplary
“serving as a desirable model or pattern”
Explore more surprising origins