stepping stone

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See also: steppingstone and stepping-stone

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

First attested circa 1325; first used in the figurative sense circa 1653.

Pronunciation

Noun

stepping stone (plural stepping stones)

  1. A stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creek.
    • 1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems:
      Falling—her veriest stepping-stone
      Shall form the pedestal of a throne— […]
  2. (idiomatic) Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else.
    He was full of ambition, and force, and life, intending all sorts of great things, and meaning to make his position a stepping stone to all that was excellent in public life.
    Esperanto can make a good stepping stone language to Latin, which may be difficult for amateur linguists.

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