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touchstone
touch·stone / ˈtəchˌstōn/ • n. a piece of fine-grained dark schist or jasper formerly used for testing alloys of gold by observing the color of the mark that they made on it. ∎ a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized: they tend to regard grammar as the touchstone of all language performance. |
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Cite this article
"touchstone." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "touchstone." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-touchstone.html "touchstone." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-touchstone.html |
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touchstone
touchstone a piece of fine-grained dark schist or jasper formerly used for testing alloys of gold by observing the colour of the mark which they made on it; in figurative usage, something which acts as a test of genuineness, a criterion.
Touchstone is also the name of the fool in Shakespeare's As You Like It, who loyally accompanies Rosalind and Celia into exile. |
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Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "touchstone." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "touchstone." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-touchstone.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "touchstone." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-touchstone.html |
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Touchstone
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Cite this article
MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Touchstone." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Touchstone." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Touchstone.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Touchstone." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Touchstone.html |
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touchstone
touchstone
•flagstone, ragstone
•Blackstone, jackstone
•sandstone • capstone • hearthstone
•headstone • gemstone • whetstone
•hailstone • gravestone
•freestone, keystone
•greenstone • Wheatstone
•Tinseltown • ringtone • pitchstone
•millstone • whinstone • siltstone
•holystone • semitone
•stepping stone • coping stone
•baritone • acetone • dulcitone
•tritone • drystone • milestone
•limestone
•grindstone, rhinestone
•cobblestone • gallstone • brownstone
•lodestone • soapstone • duotone
•microtone • bluestone • tombstone
•moonstone • touchstone
•bloodstone, mudstone
•sunstone • ironstone • undertone
•monotone • cornerstone
•Silverstone • overtone
•kerbstone (US curbstone)
•turnstone
•birthstone • flavone • endzone
•cortisone • ozone
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Cite this article
"touchstone." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "touchstone." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-touchstone.html "touchstone." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-touchstone.html |
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