millstone
|mill/stone|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈmɪlˌstoʊn/
🇬🇧
/ˈmɪl.stəʊn/
heavy burden
Etymology
Etymology Information
'millstone' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'mylenstān', where 'mylen' meant 'mill' and 'stān' meant 'stone'.
Historical Evolution
'mylenstān' transformed into the Middle English word 'milne-ston', and eventually became the modern English word 'millstone'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'stone used in a mill for grinding', but over time it also evolved to mean 'a heavy burden or responsibility'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a large, flat, circular stone used for grinding grain in a mill.
The millstone was used to grind wheat into flour.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/13 18:53