Exemplum

Origin

From Latin exemplum ("example").

Full definition of exemplum

Noun

1. An example.
2. A story demonstrating a moral point.
• 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, p. 90:In the Middle Ages preachers had enlivened their sermons with exempla – edifying tales of judgements upon sinners and mercies shown to the pious.----