## Meanings
1. A single example of something, used to show what the whole group is like.
2. A small sample of blood, urine, or tissue taken for medical testing.

## Examples
- This butterfly is a fine specimen of a rare species.
- The nurse asked me to provide a urine specimen for the lab.

## Synonyms
- individual
- sample

## Derived Forms
- biospecimen
- interspecimen
- intraspecimen
- multispecimen
- specimenize

## Related Forms
- species

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *speḱ-

## Etymology
From Latin specimen (“mark, sign, example”), from speciō (“observe, watch”).

## AI Etymology
Specimen is from Latin specimen (“mark, sign, example”), from speciō (“observe, watch”). A key historical form is Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-. In present-day use, it can mean a single example of something, used to show what the whole group is like, or a small sample of blood, urine, or tissue taken for medical testing. Derived formations include biospecimen, interspecimen, intraspecimen, multispecimen, specimenize. Related words include species.

## Topics
- The Human Body
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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specimen

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