This word combines “lode,” from the Old English word for “course,” with “stone,” a combination that has ended up with literal and figurative meanings. The first usage for “lodestone” is for an actual rock — a piece of magnetite or another magnetized mineral — that is a magnet. The figurative usage of “lodestone” evolved out of the mineral context. Just as a magnet draws metal objects toward it, a lodestone draws people and things to remain close by. A library might be a lodestone for families in the community, or a leader’s strong work ethic might be a lodestone for their employees.