Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SAM'PLE, n. [L. exemplum; Sp. and Port. exemplo; It. esempio; Fr. exemple; Arm. eçzempl; Ir. somplar, samhlachas, from samhail, similar.]

1. A specimen; a part of any thing presented for inspection or intended to be shown, as evidence of the quality of the whole; as, a sample of cloth or of wheat. Goods are often purchased in market by samples. I design this as a sample of what I hope more fully to discuss. – Woodward.
2. Example; instance. – Addison.