lodestar

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English lode (“journey, course”) +‎ star, where lode is an archaic noun from the verb lithe (“to go, journey”), related to lead. Other Middle English spellings include: 14th century loode sterre, lood-sterre, lade-sterne; and 15th century lode sterre. Cognate with Old Norse leiðarstjarna, Dutch leidster, German Leitstern, Danish ledestjerne, Swedish ledstjärna. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈləʊd.stɑː(ɹ)/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈloʊd.stɑɹ/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈləʉd.staː(ɹ)/ Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ) === Noun === lodestar (plural lodestars) A star used as a navigation reference, particularly a pole star such as Polaris. (figurative) A guiding tenet or principle. (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. ==== Alternative forms ==== lode starre (16th century) loadstar ==== Synonyms ==== cynosure guiding star ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== lodestone === Anagrams === delators, leotards