philosophers' stone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Their tweeted strategy was Google as philosopher’s stone, turning carelessly written sentences into dot-com gold.

From Slate • May 17, 2022

The unsuccessful glassblower and alchemist Hennig Brandt was trying to find the philosopher’s stone, a mythical substance that could turn base metals into gold.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 27, 2019

But for the denizens of Silicon Beach, aircraft represent the ultimate hack — a philosopher’s stone that makes rest out of work.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2019

Valentine believed he was on the trail of the philosopher’s stone.

From Washington Post • Jan. 30, 2018

For the alchemists, the reality of the philosopher’s stone was beyond question; within a generation their appeal to authority, to ancient texts and secret manuscripts, seemed hopelessly misplaced.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton