alchemy English · revision 358

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈælkəmi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|alkamie]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|alquemie]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline) [[der|la-med|alchymia]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|ar|الكيمياء|tr=al-kīmiyāʾ]],^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD) [[af|ar|ال|كيمياء|tr1=al|tr2=kīmiyāʾ|t1=the|t2=alchemy]],^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD)^(Etymonline) [[der|grc|χημεία|tr=khēmeía]].^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD)^(RHWU) The origin of the Greek word is uncertain.^(Etymonline) It has been linked with ''Khēmia'', an old name for Egypt,^(AHD)^(Etymonline) and with Greek ''khúma'' “that which is poured out”, from ''khein'' “to pour”;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) Etymonline thinks the word may show traces of both.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The chemistry of the Middle Ages, aimed above all at turning base metals into gold (1362).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Barnhart records early Middle English forms such as ''alconomye'' and ''alkamye'' in the late 14th century,^(Barnhart 1995) which Random House explains as a blend with ''astronomye''.^(RHWU) The art and its name passed from Alexandria to the Arabs and reached Europe through Arabic Spain.^(Etymonline) Alongside the transmutation of metals, alchemists sought a universal remedy and a means of prolonging life.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) From about 1600 the word was used figuratively for any seemingly magical power of transformation.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) Middle English also used it for a gold-like alloy, and for a trumpet made of such metal (1440).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1362 – the medieval science of transmuting metals.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1440 – a metal alloy imitating gold.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1600 – figurative, a magical power of transmutation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1615 – as a verb, to plate or alloy with another metal (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The medieval forerunner of chemistry, which sought to turn base metals into gold, find a universal cure and prolong life.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A seemingly magical power or process that transforms something ordinary into something precious.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[alchemical]]

+ * [[alchemically]]

+ * [[alchemist]]

+ * [[alchemize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chemistry]]

+ * [[chemist]]

+ * [[elixir]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}