An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold to find the panacea or universal remedy for diseases etc It led the way to modern-day biochemistry
- the way in which two people relate to each other
- a pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times
- An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to obtain the panacea, or universal remedy for conditions, etc. It led how you can modern biochemistry.
- A mixed material composed primarily of metal, previously employed for numerous utensils; thus, a trumpet.
- Miraculous energy of transmuting one thing typical into some thing precious.
mid-14c., from Old French alchimie (14c.), alquemie (13c.), from Medieval Latin alkimia, from Arabic al-kimiya, from Greek khemeioa (found c.300 C.E. in a decree of Diocletian against "the old writings of Egyptians"), all meaning "alchemy." Maybe from a classic title for Egypt (Khemia, actually "land of black colored earth," present Plutarch), or from Greek khymatos "whatever is poured out," from khein "to pour," regarding khymos "liquid, sap" [Klein, citing W. Muss-Arnolt, calls this people etymology]. The term appears to have components of both origins.Mahn ... concludes, after a more elaborate investigation, that Gr. khymeia was possibly the original, becoming initially applied to pharmaceutical biochemistry, that has been chiefly focused on drinks or infusions of flowers; that activities of Alexandrian alchemists were a subsequent development of chemical research, and that the notoriety of these may have triggered title regarding the art to be popularly associated with the old name of Egypt. [OED]The al- could be the Arabic definite article, "the." The art while the name were followed because of the Arabs from Alexandrians and thence gone back to Europe via Spain. Alchemy had been the "biochemistry" of Middle Ages and early present times; since c.1600 your message has-been applied distinctively toward pursuit of the transmutation of baser metals into silver, which, combined with look for the universal solvent and the panacea, were the main occupations of very early biochemistry.
(letter.) An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into silver, to obtain the panacea, or universal remedy for conditions, etc. It led how you can modern-day biochemistry.
- (letter.) A mixed metal composed mainly of metal, previously employed for different utensils; thus, a trumpet.
- (n.) Miraculous power of transmuting anything common into something valuable.
Another legend, also to be found in Arabic sources, asserts that alchemy was revealed by God to Moses and Aaron.