First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
alchemy
noun al·che·my \ˈal-kə-mē\
: a science that was used in the Middle Ages with the goal of changing ordinary metals into gold
: a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way
Full Definition of ALCHEMY
1
: a medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy aiming to achieve the transmutation of the base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for disease, and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life
2
: a power or process of transforming something common into something special
3
: an inexplicable or mysterious transmuting
— al·chem·i·cal \-mi-kəl\ also al·chem·ic \al-ˈke-mik\ adjective
— al·chem·i·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Origin of ALCHEMY
Middle English alkamie, alquemie, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French alkimie, from Medieval Latin alchymia, from Arabic al-kīmiyā', from al the + kīmiyā' alchemy, from Late Greek chēmeia
Other Occult Terms
ALCHEMY Defined for Kids
alchemy
noun al·che·my \ˈal-kə-mē\
Definition of ALCHEMY for Kids
: a science that was used in the Middle Ages with the goal of changing ordinary metals into gold
Medical Dictionary
alchemy
noun al·che·my \ˈal-kə-mē\
plural al·che·mies
Medical Definition of ALCHEMY
: the medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy whose aims were the transmutation of the base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for diseases, and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life
—al·che·mist \-məst\ noun
—al·che·mis·tic \ˌal-kə-ˈmis-tik\ or al·che·mis·ti·cal \-ti-kəl\ adjective
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