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Thursday August 13, 2009

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paragon [PAIR-uh-gon; -guhn]

noun

1. A model of excellence or perfection; one having no equal.

• While popular with film audiences from the outset, he seems to acquire a harmonious identity as the humorously deceptive and supremely self-confident aristocrat-liberator Don Diego Vega, who assumes the identity of an elusive masked swordsman and paragon called Zorro.
  Gary Arnold, "Early years of Douglas Fairbanks", Washington Times, Jul 12, 2009
• From a pilgrim he learns of Clemence, the countess of Tripoli, renowned for her beauty and elegance. Jaufre falls in love with the fantasy of a relationship with this paragon, and begins composing odes to her.
  Anthony Tommasini. "An Acrobatic Approach to a Ruminative Tale of Love", New York Times, Jul 9, 2009
• Judge then of his utter stupefaction when he saw Uncle Ben - actually Uncle Ben!--approach this paragon of perfection, albeit with some embarrassment, and after a word or two of unintelligible conversation walk away with him!
  Bret Harte (1836 - 1902) An American author and poet. Cressy

Origin of the Word

Paragon, approximately 1548, derives from Middle French paragon "a model, pattern of excellence", from paragonare "to test on a touchstone, compare," from Greek parakonan "to sharpen, whet," from para- "on the side" + akone "whetstone."