paragon

[ par-uh-gon, -guh n ]
/ ˈpær əˌgɒn, -gən /

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of paragon

1540–50; < Middle French < Old Italian paragone comparison, perhaps < Greek parágōn, present participle of parágein ‘to bring side by side’

OTHER WORDS FROM paragon

par·a·gon·less, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for paragon

British Dictionary definitions for paragon

paragon
/ (ˈpærəɡən) /

noun

a model of excellence; pattern a paragon of virtue
a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 20 point

verb (tr)

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

Word Origin for paragon

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