To be characteristic or representative of a type, class, or group; to serve as a typical example. It emphasizes being a standard or normal representative.
From Greek 'typos' (impression, figure, type) and English suffix '-ify' (to make). The Greek root originally meant a mark made by striking, developing into the sense of a characteristic form or pattern.
Typify comes from Greek 'typos' meaning 'a mark made by striking' - the same root as 'typography' and 'typewriter'! This reveals how being 'typical' originally meant bearing the distinctive 'stamp' or 'impression' of a category. Types are like stamps that leave recognizable patterns!
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