Lodestar Definition

lōdstär

noun

A star by which one directs one's course; esp., the North Star.

Webster's New World

A star, such as Polaris, that is used as a point of navigational reference.

American Heritage

A principle, interest, or person that serves as a guide.

American Heritage

A guiding principle or ideal.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Lodestar

Singular:

lodestar

Plural:

lodestars

From lode (“journey, course") +"Ž star, where lode is an archaic noun from the verb lithe (“to go, journey"), related to lead. Cognate with Old Norse leiðarstjarna, German Leitstern, Swedish ledstjärna. English from the 14th century as loode sterre, lood-sterre, lade-sterne, 15th century lode sterre, 16th century lode starre.

From Wiktionary
Middle English lodesterre lode way lode sterre star star

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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