Typifies

Typifies is the third-person singular present tense of the verb typify. The term means to be or to act as a typical example of something; to symbolize, epitomize, or illustrate a broader category or class. When a single instance typifies a trend, it is presented as representative of that trend rather than as an isolated case. The sense emphasizes characteristic features that define a group, rather than the uniqueness of the instance.

Etymology: Typify derives from Late Latin typificare, from Greek typos meaning 'model, imprint' plus the Latin suffix -ficare. The noun form type, from the same root, denotes a class or exemplary form.

Usage: The verb is common in academic, critical, and descriptive writing. For example: "The novel typifies the anxieties of urban life in the period." In analysis, writers say a feature typifies a broader phenomenon, meaning it captures essential traits of that phenomenon. Caution is advised: to claim that something typifies a group can imply broad generalization; readers should assess whether enough evidence supports the representation. In modern usage, typify is often employed to discuss archetypes, typification processes in social science, or cultural analysis.

See also: typification, archetype, stereotype, representative sample.