• IPA: /ˈpæɹəɡən/

paragon (plural paragons)

1. A person of preeminent qualities, who acts as a pattern or model for others. [from 16th c.]

   In the novel, Constanza is a paragon of virtue who would never compromise her reputation.

   • c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene ii]:

     Man, […] the paragon of animals!

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2. (obsolete) A companion; a match; an equal. [16th–19th c.]

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3. (obsolete) Comparison; competition. [16th–17th c.]
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.ix:

     quote en

4. (typography, printing, dated) The size of type between great primer and double pica, standardized as 20-point. [from 18th c.]
5. A flawless diamond of at least 100 carats.

• (model) See Thesaurus:model

• French: parangon
• German: Vorbild, Muster, Musterbeispiel, Inbegriff, Modell, Paradebeispiel
• Russian: образе́ц
• Spanish: modelo, dechado

• German: Gegenüber, Begleiter, Gleichgesinnter
• Italian: paragone

• German: Vergleich, Wettbewerb, Gegenüber
• Italian: paragone
• Spanish: parangón

• French: petit-parangon
• German: Paragon, Secunda
• Italian: paragone, ascendonica
• Spanish: gran paragon

paragon (paragons, present participle paragoning; past and past participle paragoned)

1. To compare; to parallel; to put in rivalry or emulation with.
2. To compare with; to equal; to rival.

   • quote en

3. To serve as a model for; to surpass.
   • c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene i]:

     He hath achieved a maid / That paragons description and wild fame.

4. To be equal; to hold comparison.

• German: vergleichen, mithalten, ebenbürtig sein, die Stirn bieten
• Italian: paragonare

• Italian: paragonare

• French: parangonner
• German: Vorbild sein, vorausgehen, modellhaft sein

• German: gleichauf sein, vergleichbar sein