ensample

From Middle English ensaumple (noun) and ensaumplen (verb), from Old French ensample.

ensample (plural ensamples)

1. (archaic) An example; a pattern or model for imitation.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, 1 Peter 5:3:

     Being ensamples to the flock.

   • 1600, Edward Fairfax, The Jerusalem Delivered of Tasso, Book IX, xxviii:

     The bold ensample of their father's might / Their weapons whetted and their wrath increas'd.

   • 1662 Book of Common Prayer, Collect for the Second Sunday after Easter

     Almighty God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life:

   • 1861, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage:

     I hope that it may be taken by all of us as a lesson, and an ensample, and a teaching of the Lord's mercy.

   • 1899, Dante Gabriel Rossetti (transl.), The New Life (La Vita Nuova) of Dante Alighieri, Siddall edition, page 111.

     By which ensamples this thing shall be made manifest unto such as may be offended at any part of this my book.

ensample (third-person singular simple present ensamples, present participle ensampling, simple past and past participle ensampled)

1. (obsolete) To exemplify, to show by example.

• “ensample”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

• Speelman, empanels, emplanes

Old French ensample

ensample (plural ensamples)

1. example

ensample oblique singular, m (oblique plural ensamples, nominative singular ensamples, nominative plural ensample)

1. Alternative form of essainple