ex·em·pla·ry

[ig-zem-pluh-ree, eg-zuhm-pler-ee]
adjective
1.
worthy of imitation; commendable: exemplary conduct.
2.
serving as a warning: an exemplary penalty.
3.
serving as an illustration or specimen; illustrative; typical: The sentences read are exemplary of the style of the essay as a whole.
4.
serving as a model or pattern: The authoritative and exemplary text of the work is in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.
5.
of, pertaining to, or composed of exempla: the exemplary literature of the medieval period.

Origin:
1400–50 for earlier sense “model, exemplar”; 1580–90 for def 1; late Middle English (noun) < Latin exemplāris. See exemplum, -ary

ex·em·pla·ri·ly, adverb
ex·em·pla·ri·ness, ex·em·plar·i·ty, noun
non·ex·em·pla·ry, adjective
un·ex·em·pla·ry, adjective


1. laudable, noteworthy, praiseworthy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Exemplary is an SAT word you need to know.
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mere chance or accident
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World English Dictionary
exemplary (ɪɡˈzɛmplərɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  fit for imitation; model: an exemplary performance
2.  serving as a warning; admonitory: an exemplary jail sentence
3.  representative; typical: an action exemplary of his conduct
 
ex'emplarily
 
adv
 
ex'emplariness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

exemplary
1580s (exemplar is attested from late 14c.), from M.Fr. exemplaire, from L. exemplaris "that serves as an example," from exemplum "example."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The quality has varied, from exemplary to star-chamber.
The prime minister leads a life of exemplary simplicity.
The overriding goal is to help students become exemplary global citizens.
Evidence of exemplary college teaching experience is strongly preferred.
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