philosophers' stone

9.9

People in old stories say it changes ordinary metals into gold or gives eternal life

noun
/ˈfɪləˌsɑfərz stoʊn/

Literature

: piedra filosofal

The quest for the philosophers' stone inspired centuries of alchemical experiments.

Examples

Many alchemists sought the philosophers' stone to achieve immortality.
Many famous alchemists devoted their lives to finding the philosophers' stone.
Legends claim the philosophers' stone could grant eternal life as well as riches.
The philosophers' stone is legendary.
Legends claim the philosophers' stone could grant eternal life as well as riches.
Many famous alchemists devoted their lives to finding the philosophers' stone.
Many alchemists sought the philosophers' stone to achieve immortality.

Synonyms

philosopher's stone

vsphilosophers' stone

Literature

1 9.9

A magical thing that turns metals into gold and makes people live forever

has the same meaning but uses a different apostrophe placement in its name

Surface Forms

philosophers' stone singular

philosophers' stones plural

Morphology

philosophers' + stone

The phrase names a legendary alchemical substance with specific magical properties (turning base metals into gold, granting immortality) that are not predictable from 'philosopher(s)' (a thinker) + 'stone' (a piece of rock). A B1 learner who knows the constituent words would at best infer 'a stone associated with philosophers' but would not be able to derive its alchemical or legendary functions without prior cultural or encyclopedic knowledge.

Etymology

Philosophers' stone comes from old alchemists who imagined a small stone that could 'turn base metals into gold' or give 'immortality'. So, the phrase now means a legendary, magical thing said to make gold or give long life.