\Spec"i*men\, n. [L., fr. specere to look, to behold.
See {Spy}.]
A part, or small portion, of anything, or one of a number of
things, intended to exhibit the kind and quality of the
whole, or of what is not exhibited; a sample; as, a specimen
of a man's handwriting; a specimen of painting; aspecimen of
one's art.
Syn: Sample; model; pattern.
Usage: {Specimen}, {Sample}. A specimen is a representative
       of the class of things to which it belongs; as, a
       specimen of photography. A sample is a part of the
       thing itself, designed to show the quality of the
       whole; as, a sample of sugar or of broadcloth. A
       cabinet of minerals consists of specimens; if a part
       be broken off from any one of these, it is a sample of
       the mineral to which it belongs. ``Several persons
       have exhibited specimens of this art before multitudes
       of beholders.'' --Addison. ``I design this but for a
       sample of what I hope more fully to discuss.''
       --Woodward.