Kamień filozoficzny
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What it means
Literally “the philosopher’s stone.” The legendary alchemical substance said to turn base metals into gold and grant immortality — used figuratively for any elusive, magical solution to all problems.
Vocabulary
- kamień — stone
- filozoficzny — philosophical
Grammar note
Nominative masculine noun phrase. Used both literally (alchemy) and figuratively (an impossible cure-all).
Cultural context
Alchemy had a strong tradition in Central Europe — Polish kings patronised alchemists at the royal court in Kraków.
Intermediate
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