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alchemy

Etymology and origin of the English word alchemy

History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈælkəmi/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English alkamie,[2][3] borrowed from Old French alquemie,[2][4] from Medieval Latin alchymia,[2][3][5] from Arabic الكيمياء (al-kīmiyāʾ),[3][2] from Arabic ال (al, “the”) + كيمياء (kīmiyāʾ, “alchemy”),[3][2][4] from Ancient Greek χημεία (khēmeía).[3][2][5] The origin of the Greek word is uncertain.[4] It has been linked with Khēmia, an old name for Egypt,[2][4] and with Greek khúma “that which is poured out”, from khein “to pour”;[4][6] Etymonline thinks the word may show traces of both.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The chemistry of the Middle Ages, aimed above all at turning base metals into gold (1362).[7][4]

Semantic evolution

Barnhart records early Middle English forms such as alconomye and alkamye in the late 14th century,[6] which Random House explains as a blend with astronomye.[5] The art and its name passed from Alexandria to the Arabs and reached Europe through Arabic Spain.[4] Alongside the transmutation of metals, alchemists sought a universal remedy and a means of prolonging life.[2][3] From about 1600 the word was used figuratively for any seemingly magical power of transformation.[7][2] Middle English also used it for a gold-like alloy, and for a trumpet made of such metal (1440).[7]

Timeline

  • 1362 – the medieval science of transmuting metals.[7]
  • 1440 – a metal alloy imitating gold.[7]
  • about 1600 – figurative, a magical power of transmutation.[7]
  • 1615 – as a verb, to plate or alloy with another metal (obsolete).[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The medieval forerunner of chemistry, which sought to turn base metals into gold, find a universal cure and prolong life.
  2. A seemingly magical power or process that transforms something ordinary into something precious.

Word family

  • alchemical
  • alchemically
  • alchemist
  • alchemize
  • chemistry
  • chemist
  • elixir

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  6. ^ a b Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Alchemy.” Etymologically, 9 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/alchemy. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on .