Sām'ple1, n.
n. [O. Fr. essample, example, ensample. See EXAMPLE and ENSAMPLE.]
Sense 1. A part of any thing presented for inspection, or intended to be shown, as evidence of the quality of the whole; a specimen; as, goods are often purchased in market by samples.
I design this as a sample of what I hope more fully to discuss. Woodward.
Sense 2. Example; instance. “A sample to the youngest.” Shak.
Synonyms—Specimen; example; illustration. See SPECIMEN.