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archetype

/ˈɑːrkɪtaɪp/  ·  say it: AR·ki·typ

a perfect or typical example

In Nuance & Precision

a universal, recurring character type or symbol

In Literary English

In more detail

1. (noun) a very typical example of something that has influenced many later copies or imitations

2. (noun) an original pattern or model from which other things are based

Examples

• 1. The detective in this novel is an archetype of the hard-boiled investigator.
• 2. In literature, the hero's journey is an archetype found in stories across many cultures.

Nearby in Nuance & Precision

orthodoxy, heterodoxy, paradigm, prototype, epitome, quintessence