Added 9 October 2026
paragon
/ˈpæɹəɡən/ noun
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about paragon at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- An ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept.
- Model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal.
Origin
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”)).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)