Now rare. Forms: 5 examplaire, -ayre, -eir, -ire, exawmplere, 5–7 exampler, 6– examplar. [a. OF. examplaire, exemplaire (see EXEMPLAR), semi-learned form of essamplaire:—late L. exemplārium, f. exemplum EXAMPLE sb.
Now almost superseded by exemplar; it is possible that some of the recent instances may be merely misprints.]
1. A pattern, model; a perfect specimen (of some quality); a person or thing to be imitated.
c. 1430. Lydg., in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 47. Moder of ihesu, myrrour of chastite … Trew examplire of verginite.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, D iij b. After thexamplayre of his sone.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. 60. They … toke their examplar out of the dotages of the Gentiles.
1568. E. Tilney, Flower of Friendship, C iij. A silent person, is the exampler of wisedome.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Heb. ix. 23. It is necessarie therefore that the examplers of the cælestials be cleansed with these.
1603. Daniel, Panegyr. King, xxiii. There, great examplar! prototype of kings!
1794. Paley, Evid. (1825), II. 311. He could no longer have a living examplar to copy from.
1860. Thackeray, Round. Papers, Nil nisi bonum, 228. An examplar of goodness, probity, and pure life.
† b. ? A deterrent example. Obs.
[1560. (see EXAMPLAR a.).]
† 2. A book of (moral) examples. Obs. rare–1.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, A ij. I tolde them that I wolde make a book and an examplayre for my doughters.
3. † A copy, transcript (obs.). b. An exemplar (of a book), one of the ‘copies’ of which the edition consists.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, IV. xxix. (1859), 62. Euery good kynge is preised by the exampler [Fr. lexemplaire], figure, or statua of his good condicion, and knowen therby, ryght as a man is knowen by his visage.
c. 1475. Partenay, Prol. 131. That I ther take the exampleir wold Off a boke of his which that he had made.
1572. W. Malim, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1599), II. I. 121. With what paine and diligence, I referre me to them which are skilfull in the Italian tongue, or may the better iudge, if it please them to trie the same, casting aside this exampler.
1880. Academy, 4 Sept., 163/1. Pamphlets existing in unique examplars.
† 4. A piece of needlework containing examples of stitches, etc.: see SAMPLER. Obs.
1530. Palsgr., 217/2. Exampler for a woman to worke by, exemple.
1583. Rich, Phylotus & Emelia (1835), 13. She might goe seeke out her examplers, and to peruse whiche woorke would doe beste in a Ruffe.
