Definition of "model"

I had my father's signet in my purse, / Which was the model of that Danish seal.

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene ii]

You have here the models of ſeveral ancient Temples, though the Temples themſelves, and the Gods that were worſhipped in them, are periſhed many hundred years ago.

1726, [Joseph Addison], Dialogues Upon the Usefulness of Ancient Medals. […], [London], page 23

The trouble is, all those well-intentioned scientists who are arguing that we’re not in any imminent danger are basing their arguments on computer models. I’m basing mine on what’s actually happening.

2007 November 1, Jeff Goodell, quoting James Lovelock, “James Lovelock, the Prophet”, in Rolling Stone‎

The fourth model is called the enlightment model: Actors are seen to be responsible for problems but unable or unwilling to provide solutions. They are believed to need discipline provided by authoritative guidance. The Alcoholic Anonymous[sic] groups are considered prototypical for this model.

2013 June 29, Leo Montada, “Coping with Life Stress”, in Herman Steensma, Riël Vermunt, editors, Social Justice in Human Relations Volume 2: Societal and Psychological Consequences of Justice and Injustice‎, Springer Science & Business Media, page 26

Above all, the 48-page timetables of the new service, which have been distributed free at every station in the scheme, are a model to the rest of B.R. For the first time on British Railways, so far as we are aware, a substantial timetable has been produced, not only without a single footnote but also devoid of all wearisome asterisks, stars, letter suffixes and other hieroglyphics.

1960 December, “The Glasgow Suburban Electrification is opened”, in Trains Illustrated, page 714

Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. […] Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster. Clever financial ploys are what have made billionaires of the industry’s veterans. “Operational improvement” in a portfolio company has often meant little more than promising colossal bonuses to sitting chief executives if they meet ambitious growth targets. That model is still prevalent today.

2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70

Thou seest thy wretched brother die, / Who was the model of thy father's life.

1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii]

[...] from the land of your origin, because you demand the claims of those who believe it more model than yours, [...]

1898, John Thorburn, The St. Andrew's Society of Ottawa: 1846-1897 : sketch, page 40

Methods of game-preservation in their extensive and well-stocked hunting-grounds were as model as the huntsmanlike management of the hunts.

1932, Nora Fugger, translated by James Austin Galaston, The Glory of the Habsburgs: the Memoirs of Princess Fugger, page 35

[...] and we press with special severity on one small country whose agriculture is as model as is her way of rural life.

1934, Charles Ryle Fay, Imperial economy and its place in the formation of economic doctrine, 1600-1932, page 143

True, it is an untidy county; the farmhouses are much more model than the farms (when we reach Antrim we shall find that the farms are more model than the farmhouses).

1956, Stephen Rynne, All Ireland, page 54

At our approach the animals made so much noise that the owners of the hut peered round the door to see what was the matter; outwardly rather less model than the farm, there appeared two ancient Basques, emblematically black-bereted, gnarled [...]

1961, Blackwood's Magazine, volume 289, page 525

But not all the exchanges were as model as the sergeant. Some of the exchangees showed a rigidity and reluctance to adapt.

1968, American County Government, volume 33, page 19

It is as model as you can get.

1999, Michael D. Williams, Acquisition for the 21st century: the F-22 Development Program, page 113

While Asians have been perceived as the model minority, it is increasingly clear that some Asian groups are more model than are others, and even within these model groups, a division exists [...]

2002, Uma Anand Segal, A framework for immigration: Asians in the United States, page 308

All were neat and well kept which added to the sense that they were more model than real.

2010, Eleanor Coppola, Notes on a Life, page 140

What passenger growth might be achieved by this can be modelled, but experience shows that in the post-COVID environment, accurate modelling is exceptionally difficult.

2023 June 28, Mel Holley, “A true transport trailblazer?”, in RAIL, number 986, page 34