altar stone

noun

: a stone slab with a compartment containing the relics of martyrs that forms an essential part of a Roman Catholic altar

Examples of altar stone in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The altar stone is believed to have been added around 2500BCE during a period of cultural shifts in Britain with new people coming in from mainland Europe. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 20 Dec. 2024 Earlier this year, another scientific paper provided compelling evidence that Stonehenge’s central altar stone originally came from about 430 miles (700 kilometers) away in the north of Scotland. — Jamie Carter, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of altar stone was in the 14th century

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“Altar stone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altar%20stone. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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