alchemy

Meaning

1. (uncountable) The premodern and early modern study of physical changes, particularly in Europe, Arabia, and China; and chiefly in pursuit of an elixir of immortality, a universal panacea, and/or a philosopher's stone able to transmute base metals into gold, eventually developing into chemistry.
2. (countable) The causing of any sort of mysterious sudden transmutation.
3. (countable, slang) Any elaborate transformation process or algorithm.

Synonyms

interpersonal chemistry

chemistry

hermetic

supernaturalism

magical power

art of making elixirs

training of active substance

elixir

Translations

alchimie

alquimia

alchimia

alquimia

alquímia

αλχημεία

Alchemie

alchemie

alchimie

Alchimie

simya

alchemia

alşimist

خيمياء

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈælkəmi/

Etymology

Cognate with French: alchimie

Cognate with Spanish: alquimia

Cognate with Italian: alchimia

In summary

From Old French alkimie, arquemie (French alchimie), from Medieval Latin alchēmia, from Arabic اَلْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ), from Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā, “art of alloying metals”), from χύμα (khúma, “ingot, bar”). Compare Spanish alquimia and Italian alchimia.

Sentences

Having heard that , the boy became even more interested in alchemy .