'Paradigm' is Greek for 'something shown beside for comparison' — a model placed alongside reality.
A typical example or pattern of something; a model or framework of understanding; in grammar, a set of word forms showing inflection.
From Late Latin 'paradigma' (example, model), from Greek 'paradeigma' (παράδειγμα, a pattern, a model, an example), from 'para-' (παρά, beside, alongside) + 'deiknynai' (δεικνύναι, to show, to point out), from PIE *deyḱ- (to show, to point). A paradigm is literally something 'shown alongside' — a model placed next to reality for comparison. Thomas Kuhn's 'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions' (1962) made 'paradigm shift' one of the 20th century's most influential phrases. Key
The PIE root *deyḱ- (to show, to point) hides inside a vast family. Through Latin 'dicere' (to say — literally 'to point out with words'): 'dictate,' 'dictionary,' 'predict,' 'verdict,' 'indicate,' 'index' (the pointing finger). Through Latin 'digitus' (finger — the thing that points): 'digit,' '