spĕcĭmen, ĭnis, n. [specio], that by which a thing is seen, known, or recognized.
I Lit., a mark , token , proof , example , indication , evidence , sign (class.; used only in sing.; cf.: exemplum, exemplar): nunc specimen specitur, nunc certamen cernitur, Plaut. Cas. 3, 1, 2; cf. id. Bacch. 3, 2, 15: tum Specimen cernitur, quo eveniat aedificatio, id. Most. 1, 2, 52: hoc specimen verum esse videtur, Quam celeri motu rerum simulacra ferantur, Lucr. 4, 209: ingenii specimen est quoddam transilire ante pedes posita, Cic. de Or. 3, 40, 160: ingenii, ingenui hominis, id. Fragm. Pis. 1, 2: popularis judicii, id. Brut. 50, 188: eximium consilii specimen, Liv. 8, 7, 18: anticum specimen animorum, id. 38, 17, 20: securitatis, Plin. 7, 55, 56, § 196: Solis avi, Verg. A. 12, 164: tellus Tale dabit specimen, id. G. 2, 241: matris Horae, Val. Fl. 6, 57: specimen dare alicui in aliquā re, to furnish proof , Cic. Div. in Caecil. 8, 27; cf.: Romanae fidei specimen gentibus dare, Liv. 38, 58, 6; 25, 36, 16: virtutis, id. 5, 26, 10 Weissenb. ad loc.: ad specimen virtutis ostendendum, id. 28, 21, 3.—
II Transf., a pattern , model , example , ideal (so a favorite word with Cic.): specimen sationis et insitionis origo Ipsa fuit Natura, Lucr. 5, 1361; cf. id. 5, 186: specimen humanitatis, salis, suavitatis, leporis, Cic. Tusc. 5, 19, 55: temperantiae prudentiaeque specimen est Q. Scaevola, id. N. D. 3, 32, 80: innocentiae, id. Pis. 39, 95: is ordo ceteris specimen esto, id. Leg. 3, 3, 10: num dubitas, quin specimen naturae capi deceat ex optumā quāque naturā? id. Tusc. 1, 14, 32: unicum antiquitatis specimen, Tac. A. 3, 4.—
B An ornament , honor : antiquum imperii, Sen. Thyest. 223: egregium, id. Phoen. 80: summum, Amm. 23, 6, 23: tibi specimen gloriosum arrogaris, Ap. Met. 1, 23, 14.