sample
UK[ˈsɑːmpl̩]US[ˈsæmpəl]
n
A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like.
n
A specimen taken for scientific testing or analysis.
v
To take a sample or samples of something for analysis.
v
To get a representative experience of something.
Etymology
The word 'sample' originates from the Latin noun 'exemplum', meaning 'something taken out' or a model to be copied. This Latin term is derived from the verb 'eximere', meaning 'to take out', which is formed from 'ex-' (out) and 'emere' (to take). The word entered Middle English via Anglo-Norman French as 'essample', where it was used to mean an illustrative instance or a specimen. Through phonetic reduction and common usage, the initial 'e-' was dropped, leading to the modern form 'sample', which retains the core idea of a small part taken to represent a larger whole.
Analysis
The word 'sample' is a simplex form. It is a Middle English contraction of the Anglo-Norman French word 'essample', which itself came from Latin 'exemplum', meaning 'something taken out', a model, or a pattern.
Examples
The doctor took a blood sample for testing.
We were given a free sample of the new perfume.
The survey was based on a random sample of the population.