Definition of paragon
: a model of excellence or perfection was a paragon of goodness a paragon of a wife
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paragon was our Word of the Day on 11/30/2015. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of paragon in a Sentence
in Arthurian legend, Sir Galahad is depicted as the one knight who is a paragon of virtue
Paragon Has Old Italian and Greek Roots
Paragon derives from the Old Italian word paragone, which literally means "touchstone." A touchstone is a black stone that was formerly used to judge the purity of gold or silver. The metal was rubbed on the stone and the color of the streak it left indicated its quality. In modern English, both touchstone and paragon have come to signify a standard against which something should be judged. Ultimately, paragon comes from the Greek parakonan, meaning "to sharpen," from the prefix para- ("alongside of") and akonē, meaning "whetstone."
Origin and Etymology of paragon
Middle French, from Old Italian paragone, literally, touchstone, from paragonare to test on a touchstone, from Greek parakonan to sharpen, from para- + akonē whetstone, from akē point; akin to Greek akmē point — more at edge
Origin and Etymology of paragon
see 1paragon
PARAGON Defined for English Language Learners
paragon
playDefinition of paragon for English Language Learners
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: a person or thing that is perfect or excellent in some way and should be considered a model or example to be copied
Learn More about paragon
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See words that rhyme with paragon Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for paragon Spanish Central: Translation of paragon Nglish: Translation of paragon for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of paragon for Arabic speakers
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