philosopher's stone
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9.9
- noun
- /fəˈlɑsəfərz stoʊn/
- Literature
:
piedra filosofal
- Alchemists believed that the philosopher's stone could turn lead into gold and grant immortality.
- find the philosopher's stone
Examples
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Sitting back, he put his fingertips together and said, "You offer me gold, believing I hold the secret of the philosopher's stone, which turns base metals into gold."
Fiction book (1992) -
The first key isn't a step leading to gold via the philosopher's stone, but it does lead to gold via metallurgical separation.
Academic text (2004) -
May it find its place with the philosopher's stone.
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All right... now Kabal has to get to the philosopher's stone, last piece he needs.
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Each of the "keys" is an allegorical representation of a step in the chemical process leading to the philosopher's stone.
Academic text (2004) -
He is rarer than red sulphur or a philosopher's stone.
Blog text (15) -
They sought the philosopher's stone—the magical substance.
Academic text (2004) -
"They didn't find the philosopher's stone, but they did find modern experimental science—and that's more valuable."
Academic text (2004) -
Many stories throughout history have centered on the quest for the philosopher's stone and its extraordinary powers.
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In legends, the philosopher's stone was said to be the key to unlocking eternal life.
Synonyms
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9.9
A magic drink that makes a person live forever and never grow old
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9.9
A substance alchemists hoped could turn simple metals like lead into gold
People in old stories say it changes ordinary metals into gold or gives eternal life
A thing thought to have magical or healing powers in old alchemy
Surface Forms
Morphology
philosopher's + stone
Knowing 'philosopher' and 'stone' only yields a literal sense (a stone belonging to or associated with a philosopher) and does not indicate the specialized alchemical properties. The term is a culturally and historically specific lexicalized concept (a mythical substance that makes gold and grants immortality), so a B1 learner who only knows the constituents would not reliably infer this meaning.
Etymology
Philosopher's stone comes from old alchemists who imagined a special stone made by a wise philosopher that could 'turn base metals into gold' and give 'immortality'. So, the name gives a strong image of a magical or perfect solution that can do the impossible.