specimen

nouncommon in dialogue

//ˈspɛsɪmɪn//

An individual instance that represents a class; an example.

noun

1
An individual instance that represents a class; an example.
early specimens of the art of Picasso
a specimen of my own handwriting
"You're a nice specimen for a clergyman," he said at length, "with your preachin" an" your psalm-singin', an" your Sunday coat on."
It has been a common misinterpretation by both Marxists and anti-Marxists to suppose that he regarded human beings merely as specimens of social classes, and that the 'restoration of their species-essence' meant the annihilation of individuality or its reduction to a common social nature.
2
An individual instance that represents a class; an example. A banknote printed for distribution to central banks to aid in the recognition of banknotes from a country other than their own
3
An individual instance that represents a class; an example. A postage stamp sent to postmasters and postal administrations so that they are able to identify valid stamps and to avoid forgeries
4
An individual instance that represents a class; an example. An unpleasant or contemptible person.
such a loathsome specimen of humanity
5
A sample, especially one used for diagnostic analysis.
6
An eligible man.

Etymology

From Latin specimen (“mark, sign, example”), from speciō (“observe, watch”).

Forms

plural: specimens, specimina

species · A type or kind. (Compare race.)specific · Explicit or definite.specifically · In a specific manner, applying to or naming a particular…

specimen · An individual instance that represents a class; an example.

speck · A tiny spot or particle, especially of dirt.Speck · A surname from German.specs · Specifications: plural of spec

The neighbouring pages — Alphabetical order follows the rules of the language, not byte values: an accent decides only between two otherwise identical words, and Spanish files Ñ as a letter of its own.