ALCHEMY


Meaning of ALCHEMY in English

ˈalkəmē, -mi noun

( -es )

Etymology: Middle English alkamie, alquemie, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French alquemie, from Medieval Latin alchymia, alchimia, from Arabic al-kīmiyā' the philosopher's stone, the alchemy, from al the + kīmiyā', from Late Greek chēmeia, probably alteration of chymeia, probably from Greek chyma fluid, from chein to pour — more at found (to melt)

1. : 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

2. : a great or magic power of transmutation

no … dishonest candidate could, by an alchemy of election, be converted into an honest president — A.E.Stevenson †1965

3.

a. archaic : a golden-colored alloy

b. obsolete : a golden-colored trumpet

put to their mouths the sounding alchemy — John Milton

Synonyms: see magic

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.