Paragon 是一个与单词 pagan （异教徒；异教徒的）有些容易相混淆的单词，两者可以一并联想记忆。该词源自古意大利语paragone（字面含义指“试金石”，喻指“检验标准”），16世纪40年代经古法语paragon（典范、楷模）进入英语后也是用来表示“典范、完人、尽善尽美的模范”，侧重指在某一特定优良品质方面是至高无上和无与伦比的完美典范，

比如：

儒雅的典范

a paragon of politeness

He was a notorious confidence man, not the paragon of virtue she had expected.他是一个臭名昭著的骗子，并不是她想象中的那种美德典范。

We will see that Party and state awards and honors play a guiding and exemplary role and that a public atmosphere prevails in which people emulate paragons of virtue, look up to heroes, and strive to become pioneers.权威用例发挥党和国家功勋荣誉表彰的精神引领、典型示范作用，推动全社会见贤思齐、崇尚英雄、争做先锋。

出自党的二十大报告（双语全文）

epitome: a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type model: a person or thing regarded as an excellent example of a specified quality quintessence: the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class同近义词