Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Alchemy
Al′che-my
,Noun.
[OF.
alkemie
, arquemie
, F. alchimie
, Ar. al-kīmīa
, fr. late Gr. [GREEK], for [GREEK], a mingling, infusion, [GREEK] juice, liquid, especially as extracted from plants, fr. [GREEK] to pour; for chemistry was originally the art of extracting the juices from plants for medicinal purposes. Cf. Sp. alquimia
, It. alchimia
. Gr. [GREEK] is prob. akin to L. fundere
to pour, Goth. guitan
, AS. geótan
, to pour, and so to E. fuse
. See Fuse
, and cf. Chemistry
.] 1.
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 chemistry.
2.
A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet.
[Obs.]
Put to their mouths the sounding
alchemy
. Milton.
3.
Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious.
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly
Gilding pale streams with heavenly
alchemy
. Shakespeare