Milestone

I recently reached a milestone on the Duolingo app.  I completed 1,000 days of studying consecutively.  I must admit that I have been cheating a little bit lately.  When I am tired from work, I go back and do the introductory lessons just to keep my streak alive.  Is it cheating?

A milestone is an action or event that marks a significant change or accomplishment.  For me, the event was reaching 1,000 days of studying.  Milestones are usually based on significant numbers, but a milestone does not have to be a specific achievement like this.  A baby’s first words, graduation, marriage, or retirement can all be milestones in your life.  Tell me about a milestone in your life.

Milestone is a portmanteau of mile and stone.  Mile is an antiquated form of measurement that is still used in America.  Great Britain is officially metric, but still uses some imperial units, like miles.  Prior to 1965, the British only used imperial measurements.  Stones have been used to mark distance since the ancient Romans used them along their roads.  They would place an obelisk every mile with a unique number.  The English word to describe these obelisks, milestones, dates to 1746.

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Reference:
https://www.etymonline.com/word/milestone
https://www.britannica.com/science/British-Imperial-System
https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-a-milestone