Definition of Alchimy
Alchemy, the early analysis of substances which has in modern times
developed into chemistry, and which aimed chiefly at the discovery of the
philosopher's stone, of a universal solvent, and of the elixir of life;
it has been defined to be "an art without art, which has its beginning in
falsehood, its middle in toil, and its end in poverty."
- Wikipedia
Al"che*my (&?;), n. [OF. alkemie,
arquemie, F. alchimie, Ar. al-kīmīa, 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. geótan, to
pour, and so to E. fuse. See Fuse, and cf. Chemistry.]
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. [Obs.]
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.
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
- (computing, slang): Any elaborate transformation process or algorhythm
- The medieval philosophical pseudo-science of changing objects from one element to another; i.e. (historically) changing lead and other base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for disease, and extending life.
- The speculative philosophy of the above science.
- The prompt causing any sort of mysterious transmutation.
- The Nuttall Encyclopedia
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