5. An instance serving for illustration of a rule or precept, especially a problem to be solved, or a case
to be determined, as an exercise in the application of the rules of any study or branch of science; as, in
trigonometry and grammar, the principles and rules are illustrated by examples.
Syn. — Precedent; case; instance. — Example, Instance. The discrimination to be made between
these two words relates to cases in which we give "instances" or "examples" of things done. An instance
denotes the single case then "standing" before us; if there be others like it, the word does not express
this fact. On the contrary, an example is one of an entire class of like things, and should be a true representative
or sample of that class. Hence, an example proves a rule or regular course of things; an instance
simply points out what may be true only in the case presented. A man's life may be filled up with examples
of the self-command and kindness which marked his character, and may present only a solitary instance
of haste or severity. Hence, the word "example" should never be used to describe what stands singly
and alone. We do, however, sometimes apply the word instance to what is really an example, because
we are not thinking of the latter under this aspect, but solely as a case which "stands before us." See
Precedent.
Example
(Ex*am"ple), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exampled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Exampling ] To set an example
for; to give a precedent for; to exemplify; to give an instance of; to instance. [Obs.] "I may example my
digression by some mighty precedent." Shak.
Burke devoted himself to this duty with a fervid assiduity that has not often been exampled, and has
never been surpassed.
J. Morley. Exampleless
(Ex*am"ple*less) a. Without or above example. [R.]
Exampler
(Ex*am"pler) n. [See Exemplar, Example, and cf. Sampler.] A pattern; an exemplar. [Obs.]
Exampless
(Ex*am"pless) a. Exampleless. [Wrongly formed.] B. Jonson.
Exanguious
(Ex*an"gui*ous) a. Bloodless. [Obs.] See Exsanguious. Sir T. Browne.
Exangulous
(Ex*an"gu*lous) a. [Pref ex- + angulous.] Having no corners; without angles. [R.]
Exanimate
(Ex*an"i*mate) a. [L. exanimatus, p. p. of exanimare to deprive of life or spirit; ex out +
anima air, breath, life, spirit.]
1. Lifeless; dead. [R.] "Carcasses exanimate." Spenser.
2. Destitute of animation; spiritless; disheartened. [R.] "Pale . . . wretch, exanimate by love." Thomson.
Exanimate
(Ex*an"i*mate) v. t. To deprive of animation or of life. [Obs.]
Exanimation
(Ex*an`i*ma"tion) n.[L. exanimatio.] Deprivation of life or of spirits. [R.] Bailey.
Exanimous
(Ex*an"i*mous) a. [L. exanimus, exanimis; ex out, without + anima life.] Lifeless; dead.
[Obs.] Johnson.
Exannulate
(Ex*an"nu*late) a. [Pref. ex- + annulate.] (Bot.) Having the sporangium destitute of a
ring; — said of certain genera of ferns.
Exanthem
(Ex*an"them) n. Same as Exanthema.
Exanthema
(||Ex`an*the"ma) n.; pl. Exanthemata [L., fr. Gr. fr. to burst forth as flowers, break out, as
ulcers; out + 'anqei^n to bloom, 'a`nqos flower: cf. F. exanthème.] (Med.) An efflorescence or discoloration
of the skin; an eruption or breaking out, as in measles, smallpox, scarlatina, and the like diseases; —
sometimes limited to eruptions attended with fever. Dunglison.
