[ 'alkɪmi ]
■ noun
1》 the medieval forerunner of chemistry, concerned particularly with attempts to convert base metals into gold or to find a universal elixir.
2》 a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination.
Derivatives
alchemic al'kɛmɪk adjective
alchemical adjective
alchemist noun
alchemize or alchemise verb
Origin
ME: via OFr. and med. L. from Arab. alkīmiyā' , from al 'the' + kīmiyā' (from Gk khēmia , khēmeia 'art of transmuting metals').