Prototypic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Serving as a quintessential instance that embodies the essential features of a specific category or type
2. Acting as a primary model or original example that illustrates a particular concept or class
3. Representing the fundamental example that clearly shows typical characteristics of a group or class

Etymology: The first half of "prototypic" is a Greek compound: "prōtos" meant "first," and "typos" meant "blow, impression, mark" (from the verb "tuptein," to strike), so a prototype was literally the first impression struck from a die or mould. Ancient Greek "prōtotupos" was used for an original model or archetype, passing into Latin as "prōtotypus" and then into French as "prototype" before English took it up. English formed the adjective "prototypic" by adding the suffix "-ic" to "prototype," so it describes something that has the qualities of that original impression. The suffix comes from Latin "-icus" through Old French "-ique" and Middle English "-ik," the same ending found in words like "public" and "classic."

Synonyms: exemplary, representative