The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word EXEMPLARS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
E
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The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does EXEMPLARS mean?
EXEMPLARS noun- Something fit to be imitated; an ideal, a model.
- A role model.
- Something typical or representative of a class; an example.
- A pattern after which others should be made; an archetype.
- A well known usage of a scientific theory.
- A handwritten manuscript used by a scribe to make a handwritten copy; the original copy of what gets multiply reproduced in a copy machine.
- A copy of a book or piece of writing.