Forms: 4 ensamplaire, 4–5 ensaumpler. [ad. OFr. essamplaire:—L. exemplārium, f. exemplum EXAMPLE. Cf. EXEMPLAR sb.]

1

  a.  A copy, pattern. b. A ‘copy’ of a book.

2

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., III. ix. 87. Þou drawest alle þinges of þi souereyne ensampler.

3

1388.  Wyclif, Joshua, Prol. Men of my language, the whiche oure ensaumpleris deliten.

4

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., III. xix. 412. Thei ouȝten be ensaumplers of moral vertues.

5