English Explanatory Dictionary

cornerstone

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A stone forming the base at the corner of a building.
  2. Such a stone used ceremonially, often inscribed with the architect's and owner's names, dates and other details.
  3. That which is prominent, fundamental, noteworthy, or central.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-cornerstone.wav

Word forms

cornerstone cornerstones corner stone

Etymology

From Middle English corner ston; equivalent to corner + stone. The figurative sense is in part after Psalm 118:22, and is also quoted several times in the New Testament.

Translations

Bulgarian: крайъгълен камък Catalan: pedra cantonera Czech: nárožní kámen Dutch: hoeksteen Dutch: steunpilaar Esperanto: angulŝtono Finnish: kulmakivi French: pierre angulaire French: pierre d'angle Georgian: ქვაკუთხედი German: Eckstein Greek: ακρογωνιαίος λίθος Hungarian: sarokkő Italian: pietra angolare Italian: pietra d'angolo Japanese: 礎 Middle English: corner ston Khiamniungan Naga: thāyôlòng Persian: پی Persian: بنیاد Persian: سنگ پی Plautdietsch: Akjsteen Polish: kamień węgielny Russian: краеуго́льный ка́мень Spanish: piedra angular Tagalog: panulukang-bato Turkish: köşe taşı Ottoman Turkish: كوشه طاشی Ukrainian: нарі́жний ка́мінь Welsh: conglfaen
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