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cornerstone definition

corner·stone (-stōn′)

noun

  1. a stone that forms part of the corner of a building; esp., a foundation stone of this kind, often inscribed, laid at a ceremony that marks the beginning of building
  2. the basic, essential, or most important part; foundation

Etymology: ME

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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