chemistry English · revision 5888

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=a1600}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkem.ɪ.stri/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|chemist|-ry]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) altered from earlier chimistry, chymistry under the influence of Late Greek chēmeia “alchemy”^(MWU 2024) (see [[chemical]] and [[alchemy]]).^(Etymonline) The archaic spelling chymistry lasted alongside it.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Alchemy: about 1600 in Etymonline, 1605 in the OED and MWU.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) A figurative use, referring to the results of alchemy, is from before 1600.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Natural chemical processes are from the 1640s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and medicine practised on chemical, Paracelsian lines from 1674.^(OED 1989) Chemistry separated itself from alchemy in Europe in the mid-17th century, with the founding of the Accademia del Cimento (1657), the Royal Society (1660) and the Paris Académie (1666),^(Etymonline) and the sense of the science of the composition of substances and their changes is by 1788.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The figurative sense of instinctive attraction or affinity is attested by about 1600 from the alchemical sense,^(Etymonline) and of attraction between people the Historical Thesaurus dates from 1898.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a1600 – figurative, of alchemy's effects.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1605 – alchemy.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1640s – natural chemical processes.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1674 – chemical medicine.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1788 – the science.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1898 – attraction between people.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[science]] of the composition, structure and properties of [[substance|alt=substances]] and the changes they undergo.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The chemical composition and reactions of a substance or organism.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A strong mutual attraction or understanding between people.^(MW Collegiate)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[actinochemistry]]

+ * [[astrochemistry]]

+ * [[biochemistry]]

+ * [[biogeochemistry]]

+ * [[cosmochemistry]]

+ * [[cytochemistry]]

+ * [[electrochemistry]]

+ * [[geochemistry]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alchemy]]

+ * [[chemical]]

+ * [[chemist]]

+ * [[alchemist]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}