A post or sign that marks a path or provides direction to travelers; literally a physical marker or figuratively a principle that guides decisions.
Compound of guide and post; developed in the 18th century as roads became more formalized and travelers needed consistent directional markers.
Guidepost works metaphorically because of its physical form—a guidepost literally stands independently and points the way, making it perfect imagery for abstract principles and moral frameworks.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.