Sam″ple (?), n. [OE. sample, asaumple, OF. essample, example, fr. L. exemplum. See Example, and cf. Ensample, Sampler.] 1. Example; pattern. Spenser. “A sample to the youngest.” Shak.
Thus he concludes, and every hardy knight
His sample followed. Fairfax.
2. A part of anything presented for inspection, or shown as evidence of the quality of the whole; a specimen; as, goods are often purchased by samples.
I design this but for a sample of what I hope more fully to discuss. Woodward.
Syn. — Specimen; example. See Specimen.