Word of the Day

: October 1, 2007

lodestone

noun LOAD-stoan

What It Means

1 : magnetite possessing polarity

2 : something that strongly attracts

lodestone in Context

The old battlefield is a lodestone for history buffs, and many people travel long distances to visit it.

Did You Know?

"Lodestone" is made up of distinctly English components, ones that have been part of our language since before the 12th century. "Lode" comes from the Old English "lād," which means "way, journey, course." The word "stone" derives from the Old English "stān," which had the same meaning as the modern term "stone." When the two ancient words were combined to form "lodestone" around 1515, the new term referred to magnetite, an oxide of iron that forms a natural magnet.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.