paradigm

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The Word of the Day for August 31 is:

paradigm   \PAIR-uh-dyme\   noun
    *1 : example, pattern; especially: an outstanding example or archetype
     2 : a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or 
discipline 

Example sentence:
     In operation for over 50 years, the Bergs' restaurant has long been a 
paradigm of efficient small-business management.

Did you know?
     "Paradigm" traces to a Greek verb meaning "to show" and has been used in 
English to mean "example" or "pattern" since the 15th century. Some debate 
exists, however, over what kind of example qualifies as a paradigm. Some people 
say it's a typical example, while others insist it must be an outstanding or 
perfect example. The scientific community has added to the confusion by using 
it to mean "a theoretical framework," a sense popularized by American scientist 
Thomas S. Kuhn in the second edition of his influential book _The Structure of 
Scientific Revolutions_. In that work, Kuhn admitted that he had used 
"paradigm" in 22 different ways. Some usage commentators now advise avoiding 
the term entirely on the grounds that it is overused.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence. 





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