paragon

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paragon

/ˈpæɹəɡən/ UK
/ˈpæɹəˌɡɔn/ US
/ˈpæɹəˌɡɑn/ US
/ˈpæɹəɡən/ US
/ˈpær əˌɡɒn/ US
/ˈpær əˌɡən/ US

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Middle French paragon, paragone, from Old Italian paragone, from paragonare (“to test on a touchstone”), perhaps from Ancient Greek παρακονᾶν (parakonân, “to sharpen, whet”), from παρά- (pará-) + ἀκόνη (akónē, “whetstone, sharpening stone”), from ἀκή (akḗ, “point, edge”) (from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- (“sharp”)).

noun paragons

A person of preeminent qualities, who acts as a pattern or model for others. In the novel, Constanza is a paragon of virtue who would never compromise her reputation.
Similar: archetype, epitome, example, exemplar, icon, model, paradigm, paragon, pattern, quintessence, template
obsolete A companion; a match; an equal. Philoclea, who indeed had no paragon but her sister
obsolete Comparison; competition. good by paragone / Of euill, may more notably be rad, / As white seemes fairer, macht with blacke attone […].
dated The size of type between great primer and double pica, standardized as 20-point.
A flawless diamond of at least 100 carats. The "Koh-i-noor," or "Mountain of Light," is the eighth and smallest of these paragon diamonds (all diamonds weighing over a hundred carats are called Paragon); but it was originally the largest diamond ever known, weighing uncut 900 carats. . . this matchless gem of 900 carats which once belonged t

verb paragons · paragoning · paragoned

To compare; to parallel; to put in rivalry or emulation with. for want of a bigger , to paragon the little one with Artesia's length
To compare with; to equal; to rival. Few or none could for Feature paragon with her, and much less excel her.
To serve as a model for; to surpass. He hath achieved a maid / That paragons description and wild fame.
To be equal; to hold comparison.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: perfection, beau ideal, ideal, apotheosis, idol, saint, nonpareil, nonesuch, nonsuch, paradigm, example, pattern, template, model, picture, patron saint

Translations

Every language

noun model or pattern

Español	dechado, padrón
中文	典範 /典范 diǎnfàn, 模範 /模范 mófàn
Português	modelo, exemplo
Français	parangon
Deutsch	Vorbild, Muster, Leuchtturm, Inbegriff, Modell, Paradebeispiel
Română	pildă, model, etalon
Русский	образе́ц obrazéc
עברית	מוֹפֵת mofét

noun companion

Deutsch	Gegenüber, Begleiter, Gleichgesinnter
Italiano	paragone

noun comparison; competition

Español	parangón, paragón
Deutsch	Vergleich, Wettbewerb, Gegenüber
Italiano	paragone

noun 20-point type

中文	二十點活字 /二十点活字
Français	petit-parangon
Deutsch	Paragon, Secunda
Italiano	paragone, ascendonica

verb to compare

中文	把…同…相比
Deutsch	vergleichen, mithalten, ebenbürtig sein, die Stirn bieten
Italiano	paragonare

verb to compare with

Italiano	paragonare

verb to serve as a model for

Français	parangonner
Deutsch	Vorbild sein, vorausgehen, modellhaft sein

verb to be equal

Deutsch	gleichauf sein, vergleichbar sein

Talk about this word

Cite this

MLA

"paragon." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/paragon. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

paragon. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/paragon

Chicago

"paragon." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/paragon.

BibTeX

@misc{paragon_2026,
  title = {paragon},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/paragon},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}