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touchstone |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Touchstone \Touch"stone`\, n. 1. (Min.) Lydian stone; basanite; -- so called because used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak which is left upon the stone when it is rubbed by the metal. See {Basanite}. 2. Fig.: Any test or criterion by which the qualities of a thing are tried --Hooker. The foregoing doctrine affords us also a touchstone for the trial of spirits. --South. {Irish touchstone} (Min.), basalt, the stone which composes the Giant's Causeway. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: touchstone n : a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated; "they set the measure for all subsequent work" [syn: {standard}, {criterion}, {measure}]
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