spĕcĭmen (noun N) : id., that by which a thing is seen, known, or recognized.
* 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.
* 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.
* An ornament, honor: antiquum imperii,Sen. Thyest. 223: egregium,id. Phoen. 80: summum,Amm. 23, 6, 23: tibi specimen gloriosum arrogaris,App. M. 1, p. 112 fin.