Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
EXAMPLE
I. noun see: redeem
Date: 14th century
one that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated , a punishment inflicted on someone as a warning to others, one (as an item or incident) that is representative of all of a group or type, a parallel or closely similar case especially when serving as a precedent or model, an instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate a rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of a rule, see: instance
II. transitive verb (exampled; exampling)
Date: 15th century
to serve as an example of, to be or set an example to