2 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Alchemy \Al"che*my\, n. [OF. alkemie arquemie F. alchimie Ar
al-k[=i]m[=i]a, 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 ge['o]tan, 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.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
alchemy
n 1: a power like that claimed by alchemists: "a mysterious
alchemy brought the musician and the music to ultimate
fusion"
2: a pseudoscientific predecessor of chemistry; sought to turn
base metals into gold
more about alchemy
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