lodestone

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The Word of the Day for October 1 is: 

lodestone   \LOAD-stoan\   noun
        1 : magnetite possessing polarity
    *2 : something that strongly attracts

Example sentence:
     The old battlefield is a lodestone for history buffs, and many people 
travel long distances to visit it.

Did you know?
      "Lodestone" is made up of distinctly English components, ones that have 
been part of our language since before the 12th century. "Lode" comes from the 
Old English "lād," which means "way, journey, course." The word "stone" derives 
from the Old English "stān," which had the same meaning as the modern term 
“stone.” When the two ancient words were combined to form "lodestone" around 
1515, the new term referred to magnetite, an oxide of iron that forms a natural 
magnet.





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