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alchemy

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Alchemy is a type of science and philosophy from the Middle Ages which attempted to perform successful experiments of the unusual, such as trying to make gold from metals. (noun)

An example of alchemy are the scientists of the Middle Ages who tried to discover a way to make a person’s life last forever.

Alchemy is the process of taking something ordinary and turning it into something extraordinary, sometimes in a way that cannot be explained. (noun)

An example of using alchemy is a person who takes a pile of scrap metal and turns it into beautiful art.
When watching a movie and a wizard turns a toad into a beautiful woman, it is an example of alchemy.

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See alchemy in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

an early form of chemistry, with philosophic and magical associations, studied in the Middle Ages: its chief aims were to change base metals into gold and to discover the elixir of perpetual youth
a power or process of changing one thing into another; esp., a seemingly miraculous power or process of changing a thing into something better

Related Forms:

alchemic adjective or alchemical
alchemically adverb

See alchemy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(ălˈkə-mē)

noun

A medieval chemical philosophy having as its asserted aims the transmutation of base metals into gold, the discovery of the panacea, and the preparation of the elixir of longevity.
A seemingly magical power or process of transmuting: “He wondered by what alchemy it was changed, so that what sickened him one hour, maddened him with hunger the next” (Marjorie K. Rawlings).

Related Forms:

al·chemˈi·cal (ăl-kĕmˈĭ-kəl), al·chemˈic adjective

al·chemˈi·cal·ly adverb

See alchemy in Ologies

Alchemy

See also magic.

the secret of life; a great elixir or remedy sought by the alchemists. See also knowledge.

1. the hypothetical substance sought by alchemists that was believed to transform base metals into gold and give eternal life. Also called philosopher’s stone, elixir of life.

2. Rare. the quintessence or underlying principle. See also remedies.

Hermeticism1

1. the occult concepts, ideas, or philosophy set forth in the writings of the hermeticists of the late Middle Ages and the early Renaissance.

2. adherence to, belief in, or propagation of these concepts and ideas.

3. Literature. a symbolic and arcane style similar to that of the hermeticists, especially in the poetry of certain French symbolist poets. Cf. hermetics. —hermeticist, hermetist, n. —hermetic, hermetical, adj.

1. the ideas or beliefs set forth in the writings of Hermes Trismegistus.

2. adherence to these ideas and beliefs.

hermetics

the occult sciences, especially alchemy. Cf. Hermeticism1. —hermetist, n. —hermetic, hermetical, adj.

iatrochemistry

1. originally, alchemy devoted to medicinal purposes, especially the alchemy of the period 1525-1660, influenced by the theories of Paracelsus.

2. currently, chemistry for healing purposes. —iatrochemist, n.

spagyrist

an alchemist.

the process or act of change, especially from one thing to another, as the change from base metal to gold, pursued by the alchemists. —transmutationist, n. —transmutative, adj.

transmutationist

an alchemist who believed that, in one of several ways, it was possible to change less valuable elements into silver or gold.

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