examplelessadj.
/ɛɡˈzɑːmp(ə)lləs/, /ɛɡˈzamp(ə)lləs/, /ᵻɡˈzɑːmp(ə)lləs/, /ᵻɡˈzamp(ə)lləs/, U.S. /ɪɡˈzæmpə(l)ləs/, /ɛɡˈzæmpə(l)ləs/ Having no example (in various senses); esp. without precedent or comparison, esp. in excellence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > originality or non-imitation > [adjective]
authentic1407
untransumed1526
authentical1565
primary1565
exampleless1603
unimitatedc1610
unfollowed1630
originary1679
uncopied1737
unimitating1751
unreprinted1775
unimitative1807
protogenic1855
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. iii. xii. 621 What is become of that..wonderfull examplelesse example [Fr. ce merueilleux exemple]..?
1605 B. Jonson Sejanus ii. i. 473 So examplêsse, [1616 & 1640: examp-lesse] and vn-blam'd a life, As, that of the renown'd Germanicus. View more context for this quotation
1635 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Donzella Desterrada 195 Restargo desirous to reigne alone, told the other [King], That the people could not brooke two Kings, a novelty (to speake the truth) monstrous and examplelesse.
1841 Colonial Gaz. 9 June 354/2 Deserting their own men, post, and colours, and leaving them to contend, unaided, uncommanded, exampleless, with such a fearful force.
1871 F. Bolton tr. F. Delitzsch Biblical Comm. Psalms II. 334 This..is an improbable and exampleless expression.
1935 E. R. Eddison Mistress xvi. 320 Did not that argue..a wonderful exampleless example of noble truth and word-keeping?
2015 P. Goodrich in M. Lowrie & S. Lüdemann Exemplarity & Singularity xi. 140 The exampleless example is definitive of the particularity of common law practice.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1603