Lexic.us

Definition of Alchemy

1. Noun. The way two individuals relate to each other. "A mysterious alchemy brought them together"

2. Noun. A pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times.

Definition of Alchemy

1. n. An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry.

Definition of Alchemy

1. Noun. The ancient search for a universal panacea, and of the philosopher's stone, that eventually developed into chemistry ¹

2. Noun. The causing of any sort of mysterious sudden transmutation. ¹

3. Noun. (computing slang countable) Any elaborate transformation process or algorithm. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Alchemy

1. a medieval form of chemistry [n -MIES] : ALCHEMIC [adj]

Medical Definition of Alchemy

1. 1. An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry. 2. A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet. "Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy." (Milton) 3. Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious. "Kissing with golden face the meadows green, Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy." (Shak) Origin: OF. Alkemie, arquemie, F. Alchimie, Ar. Al-kimia, fr. Late Gr, for, a mingling, infusion, juice, liquid, especially as extracted from plants, fr. To pour; for chemistry was originally the art of extracting the juices from plants for medicinal purposes. Cf. Sp. Alquimia, It. Alchimia. Gr. Is prob. Akin to L. Fundere to pour, Goth. Guitan, AS. Geotan, to pour, and so to E. Fuse. (04 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Alchemy

alchemillas alchemise alchemised alchemises alchemising alchemist alchemistic alchemistical alchemistries alchemistry

alchemists alchemize alchemized alchemizes alchemizing alchemy (current term) alchemystical alchera alcheras alchie

alchies alchymies alchymist alchymists alchymy alcian blue alcid alcidine alcids alclofenac

Literary usage of Alchemy

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Antiquary by Edward Walford, John Charles Cox, George Latimer Apperson (1891)
"IT was a question often debated, during the Middle Ages, whether alchemy was lawful or no. In England during three centuries its practice was forbidden by ..."

2. The Methodist Review (1856)
"The links which unite Chemistry to alchemy are so numerous and closely reticulated, that it is difficult to decide where extravagance ceases and sobriety ..."

3. Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton by Sir David Brewster (1855)
"CHAPTER XXV. gm ISAAC'S EARLY STUDY OF CHEMISTRY—AND OF alchemy, AS SHEWN IN HIS LETTER TO MR. ASTON—HIS EXPERIMENTS ON THE METAL FOR ..."

4. Yale Studies in English edited by Albert Stanburrough Cook, Yale university New Haven (1903)
"His powerful intellect and strong common sense penetrated the essential sham of alchemy and its allied swindles. None of his predecessors had done more than ..."

5. A History of Chemistry from Earliest Times to the Present Day Being Also an by Ernst von Meyer (1906)
"alchemy by no means ceased to exist on the appearance of the new iatro-chemical doctrines, but gradually receded as chemistry became more of a science. ..."

6. Science and Literature in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance by P. L. Jacob (1878)
"CHEMISTRY AND alchemy. Diocletian burns the Books of Chemistry. ... alchemy engenders Metallurgy. > HEMISTRY, which in the first centuries of the Christian ..."

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