alchimicus
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Forms
alchimicus, alchimica, alchimicum; first/second declension[1][2] It is also spelled ⟨alkimicus⟩ and ⟨alchymicus⟩.[1][3]
Etymology
It is from Latin alchimia (“alchemy”) + -icus.[3][1]
Earliest recorded meaning
Köbler dates its first use to about 1270.[3] British writers speak of librī alchimicī, books of alchemy, and Roger Bacon of experimental and alchemical sciences.[4]
Semantic evolution
As a noun it meant an alchemist: Albertus Magnus uses it so,[3][1] and Wyclif says that lead is not gold even according to the alchemists.[4] The neuter plural meant the art of alchemy.[1]
Timeline
- c. 1270 – It is first recorded as an adjective.[3]
- 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it of alchemical gold and of alchemists.[1][3]
Meanings
Adjective
Noun
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
- ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
- ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press