Word: paragon (noun)

Associations

The word "paragon" means a perfect example of something, especially a quality or a person who is considered the best in a particular way.

• "She is a paragon of kindness." This means she is an excellent example of being kind.
• "This building is a paragon of modern architecture." This means the building perfectly shows what modern architecture should be.
• "He is a paragon among athletes." This means he is one of the best athletes. A synonym is "model," but "paragon" usually means the highest or most perfect example, while "model" can be any example to follow, not necessarily perfect.

Substitution

You can use:

• "ideal" – focuses on something perfect or the best.
• "exemplar" – means a good example to follow.
• "model" – a standard or example. Using "paragon" often gives a stronger sense of perfection than these words.

Deconstruction

"Paragon" comes from Italian "paragone," meaning "touchstone," which was a stone used to test the quality of metals. So, a paragon is like a standard to judge others. It does not have a prefix or suffix in English; it is borrowed as a whole word.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a person or thing you consider a paragon in your life?
• How would you use "paragon" to describe a quality like honesty or bravery?
• When might it be better to use "model" or "ideal" instead of "paragon"? Why?