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Webster 1913 Edition

Lodestar

{

Load′starˊ

,

Lode′starˊ

}
,
Noun.
[
Load
,
lode
+
star.
See
Lode
.]
1.
A star that leads; a guiding star; esp., the polestar, Polaris; also, the constellation containing the pole star, the cynosure (Ursa Minor).
Chaucer.
“ Your eyes are lodestars.”
Shak.
The pilot can no
loadstar
see.
Spenser.

Lode′starˊ

,
Noun.
Same as
Loadstar
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Lodestar

LODESTAR

,
Noun.
[lead and star.] The star that leads; the polestar; the cynosure. Obs.

Definition 2024

lodestar

lodestar

See also: Lode Star

English

Alternative forms

Noun

lodestar ‎(plural lodestars)

  1. A star used as a navigation reference, particularly a pole star such as Polaris.
  2. A guiding tenet or principle.
  3. (law) A calculated amount to award as attorney's fees derived by multiplying the reasonable number of hours spent working on a case by the reasonable hourly billing rate.

Translations

Synonyms

Anagrams

Etymology

From lode ‎(“journey, course”) +‎ star, where lode is an archaic noun from the verb lithe ‎(“to go, journey”), related to lead. Cognate with Old Norse leiðarstjarna, German Leitstern, Swedish ledstjärna. English from the 14th century as loode sterre, lood-sterre, lade-sterne, 15th century lode sterre, 16th century lode starre.

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