Par″a‐gon (păr″ȧ‐gŏn), n. [OF. paragon, F. parangon; cf. It. paragone, Sp. paragon, parangon; prob. fr. Gr. � to rub against; παρά beside + � whetstone; cf. LGr. � a polishing stone.] 1. A companion; a match; an equal. Spenser.
Philoclea, who indeed had no paragon but her sister. Sir P. Sidney.
2. Emulation; rivalry; competition.
Full many feats adventurous
Performed, in paragon of proudest men. Spenser.
3. A model or pattern; a pattern of excellence or perfection; as, a paragon of beauty or eloquence. Udall.
Man,... the paragon of animals! Shak.
The riches of sweet Mary's son,
Boy-rabbi, Israel's paragon. Emerson.
4. (Print.) A size of type between great primer and double pica. See the Note under Type.