n. The sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously.
Syn. -- roll, drum roll. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. paradigme, L. paradigma, fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to show by the side of, to set up as an example; para` beside + &unr_; to show. See Para-, and Diction. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. An example; a model; a pattern. [ R. ] “The paradigms and patterns of all things.” Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gram.) An example of a conjugation or declension, showing a word in all its different forms of inflection. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Rhet.) An illustration, as by a parable or fable. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Science) A theory providing a unifying explanation for a set of phenomena in some field, which serves to suggest methods to test the theory and develop a fuller understanding of the topic, and which is considered useful until it is be replaced by a newer theory providing more accurate explanations or explanations for a wider range of phenomena. [ PJC ]

n. (Eccl. Hist.) A writer of memoirs of religious persons, as examples of Christian excellence. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. paradeigmatiko`s. ] Exemplary. -- Par`a*dig*mat"ic*al*ly, adv. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Paradigmatized p. pr. & vb. n. Paradigmatizing ] [ Gr. paradeigmati`zein. See Paradigm. ] To set forth as a model or example. [ Obs. ] Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to, or resembling, paradise; paradisiacal; as, paradisaical innocence; an age of paradisaical happiness. “Paradisaical pleasures.” Gray.
Syn. -- paradisiacal, paradisiac, paradisaic, paradisal, elysian, paradisial. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Causing happinesss. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Paradisiacal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. & F. paradis, L. paradisus, fr. Gr. para`deisos park, paradise, fr. Zend pairidaēza an inclosure; pairi around (akin to Gr. peri`) + diz to throw up, pile up; cf. Skr. dih to smear, and E. dough. Cf. Parvis. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The garden of Eden, in which Adam and Eve were placed after their creation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The abode of sanctified souls after death. [ 1913 Webster ]

To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke xxiii. 43. [ 1913 Webster ]

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
Singing in Paradise. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A place of bliss; a region of supreme felicity or delight; hence, a state of happiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The earth
Shall be all paradise. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wrapt in the very paradise of some creative vision. Beaconsfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Arch.) An open space within a monastery or adjoining a church, as the space within a cloister, the open court before a basilica, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A churchyard or cemetery. [ Obs. ] Oxf. Gloss. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fool's paradise. See under Fool, and Limbo. --
Grains of paradise. (Bot.) See Melequeta pepper, under Pepper. --
Paradise bird. (Zool.) Same as Bird of paradise. Among the most beautiful species are the superb (Lophorina superba); the magnificent (Diphyllodes magnifica); and the six-shafted paradise bird (Parotia sefilata). The long-billed paradise birds (Epimachinæ) also include some highly ornamental species, as the twelve-wired paradise bird (Seleucides alba), which is black, yellow, and white, with six long breast feathers on each side, ending in long, slender filaments. See Bird of paradise in the Vocabulary. --
Paradise fish (Zool.), a beautiful fresh-water Asiatic fish (Macropodus viridiauratus) having very large fins. It is often kept alive as an ornamental fish. --
Paradise flycatcher (Zool.), any flycatcher of the genus Terpsiphone, having the middle tail feathers extremely elongated. The adult male of Terpsiphone paradisi is white, with the head glossy dark green, and crested. --
Paradise grackle (Zool.), a very beautiful bird of New Guinea, of the genus Astrapia, having dark velvety plumage with brilliant metallic tints. --
Paradise nut (Bot.), the sapucaia nut. See Sapucaia nut. [ Local, U. S. ] --
Paradise whidah bird. (Zool.) See Whidah. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To affect or exalt with visions of felicity; to entrance; to bewitch. [ R. ] Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Paradisiacal. [ 1913 Webster ]