landmark means an object that marks the boundary of a piece of land (usually a stone, or a tree). It carries an Arena rating of 1579, earned across 4 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, landmark ranks #645 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #2,714 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words, #2,779 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #4,939 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words.
landmark is pronounced /ˈlændmɑːk/.
Why “landmark” is a great word
A recognizable object or feature of a landscape, natural or man-made, that serves as a point of reference, often one of historical, cultural, or geographical importance. From Middle English landmark, from Old English landmearc ("boundary"), from Proto-West Germanic *landamarku ("boundary, landmark"), a compound of land ("land, territory") and mark ("boundary, sign"). Unlike a "milestone," which marks progress in time, or a "boundary," which strictly divides, a landmark orients; it is a fixed point in space from which one takes a bearing. It is the weathered oak on the empty hill that says you are nearly home, the distant church spire that guides you through a labyrinth of lanes, the lone, enduring mountain that watches over generations of fleeting lives—a testament to our need for permanence in a world of transit.
Etymology
From Middle English *landmark, from Old English landmearc (“boundary”), from Proto-West Germanic *landamarku (“boundary, landmark”). Equivalent to land + mark. Cognate with German Landmarke (“landmark”), Danish landemærke (“landmark”), Swedish landmärke (“landmark”), Norwegian landemerke (“landmark”) and Faroese landamark (“land frontier”). Compare also Middle English londes-mark (“boundary”).
noun
- An object that marks the boundary of a piece of land (usually a stone, or a tree).
- A recognizable natural or man-made feature used for navigation.e.g.“Anyone have any weird landmarks they often remember seeing along roads in the olden days?” — 2005 January 22, misc.transport.road (Usenet):
- A notable location with historical, cultural, or geographical significance.
- A major event or discovery.e.g.“an important landmark in human history”
verb
- To officially designate a site or building as a landmark.e.g.“St Mary's Church stands on the north side of the village, a building of flint and stone with a 140 ft high steeple that landmarks one of the most beautiful churches in Suffolk.” — 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 413, about Woolpit:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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