ex. gr.adv.
Now rare.
For example, for instance.The most common abbreviated form of exempli gratia is now e.g.: see e.g. adv. at E n.1 Initialisms.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > in the particular case [phrase] > for instance or example
for example?a1439
as namely1565
exempli causa1569
exempli gratia1591
e.g.1622
ex. gr.1635
for instance1657
exemp. gratia1667
for the purpose1680
par exemple1801
sample this1998
1627 G. Hakewill Apologie Pref. sig. c4 If the numerall joyned with Sestertiûm be an adverb, then it designeth so many hundred thousand, ex: gra: decies Sestertiûm signifies decies centena millia.]
1635 T. Bedford True & Certaine Relation Strange-birth 19 A meditation which happily his text would not afford him. Ex. gr. This Lesson..is by this occasion prompted to me, presented to you.
1673 M. Lister Let. 26 July in H. Oldenburg Corr. (1975) X. 94 Let a yong root of Hyoscyamus ex: gr:..be dugg up in August or later, it will be found to be exceeding full of Fecula firme & solid.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Ragguled,..is applied to an Ordinary, Ex.gr. a Cross, whose Out-Lines are jagged or knotted.
1819 S. T. Coleridge Coll. Lett. (1959) IV. 979 He has given great additional publicity to weighty truths—as ex. gr. the hollowness of commercial wealth.
1868 G. V. Cox Recoll. Oxf. iv. 45 His subtle and ingenious narration of Aesop's Fable of the Dog and the Wolf, and his running comments on it, Ex. gr. ‘Just see how fat and sleek I am,’ said the Dog.
1948 K. Amis Let. 22 Mar. (2000) 165 While I would rather have written (naturally) two or three of my poems than any of yours, but only just—I would very much like to be the author of, ex.gr., nos. IX.., XVIII..and XXI.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adv.1635