| 释义 |
▪ I. alchemy|ˈælkɪmɪ|
Forms: 4–5 alkamy(e, alknamy(e, alkenamye, -emye, alconomy(e, 5 alcanamy, 6 alkemy, alcomye, alchumie, 6–7 alchimie, -ymie, 7 alkimy, -camy, -cumy, 7–8 alchimy, 6– alchymy, 7– alchemy.
[a. OFr. alquimie, -emie, -kemie, -camie (also ar-), ad. med.L. alchimia (Pr. alkimia, Sp. alquimia, It. alchimia), a. Arab. al-kīmīā, i.e. al the + kīmīā, apparently a. Gr. χηµία, χηµεία, found (c. 300) in the Decree of Diocletian against ‘the old writings of the Egyptians, which treat of the χηµία (transmutation) of gold and silver’; hence the word is explained by most as ‘Egyptian art,’ and identified with χηµία, Gr. form (in Plutarch) of the native name of Egypt (land of Khem or Khamè, hieroglyphic Khmi, ‘black earth,’ in contrast to the desert sand). If so, it was afterwards etymologically confused with the like-sounding Gr. χῡµεία, pouring, infusion, f. χυ- pf. stem of χέ-ειν to pour, cf. χῡµός juice, sap, which seemed to explain its meaning; hence the Renascence spelling alchymia and chymistry. Mahn (Etym. Unt. 69) however concludes, after an elaborate investigation, that Gr. χῡµεία was probably the original, being first applied to pharmaceutical chemistry, which was chiefly concerned with juices or infusions of plants; that the pursuits of the Alexandrian alchemists were a subsequent development of chemical study, and that the notoriety of these may have caused the name of the art to be popularly associated with the ancient name of Egypt, and spelt χηµεία, χηµία, as in Diocletian's decree. From the Alexandrians the art and name were adopted by the Arabs, whence they returned to Europe by way of Spain. Of the 14–15th c. forms, Alconomy was evidently assimilated to Astronomy, the two sciences going together.]
1. The chemistry of the Middle Ages and 16th c.; now applied distinctively to the pursuit of the transmutation of baser metals into gold, which (with the search for the alkahest or universal solvent, and the panacea or universal remedy) constituted the chief practical object of early chemistry.
1362Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. [152 Astronomye is hard þing] 157 Experimentis of Alconomye [v.r. alkenemye, alknamye]. 1377Ibid. B. x. 212 Experimentz of alkamye [v.r. alkenemye, alconomie, alle kyn amye] ·þe poeple to deceyue. 1393Gower Conf. II. 84 They founde thilke experience Which cleped is alconomy. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. xvi. (1495) 776 The asshes of a cokatrice be acountyd good and proffytable in werkyng of Alkamye: and namely in tornynge and chaungynge of metalle. 1509Barclay Ship of Fooles (1570) 211 The vayne and disceatfull craft of alkemy. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. i. iii. 159 That which would appeare Offence in vs, His Countenance, like richest Alchymie, Will change to Vertue. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. iv. vii. (1651) 167 What is..Alcumy, but a bundle of errors? 1683Pettus Fleta Min. ii. 1 Alchimie..an Art of Distilling or Drawing Quintessences out of Metals by Fire. 1776Gibbon Decl. & F. I. 371 Philosophy, with the aid of experience, has at length banished the study of alchymy. 1837Whewell Induct. Sc. (1857) I. 232 It has been usual to say that Alchemy was the mother of Chemistry.
2. fig. Magic or miraculous power of transmutation or extraction.
c1600Shakes. Sonn. xxxiii, A glorious morning..Guilding pale streames with heauenly alcumy. 1640Quarles Enchir. lxiii, It is a Princely Alchymie, out of a necessary Warre to extract an honourable Peace. 1824Byron Juan ii. cciii, Wisdom, ever on the watch to rob Joy of its alchemy. 1872Blackie Lays of Highl. 35 Toilsome Nature's patient alchemy.
†3. A metallic composition imitating gold; ‘alchemy gold.’ Hence applied to a trumpet of such metal, or of brass as its chief constituent. Obs.
1440Promp. Parv., Alkamye, metalle [1499 alcamyn] Alkamia. 1483Cath. Angl. Alcanamy, corinthium. 1513Douglas æneis xii. iv. 130 In byrnist gold and finest alcomye. 1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. Concl., Coines of gold, siluer, alcumy and copper. 1667Milton P.L. ii. 516 Four speedy cherubim Put to their mouths the sounding alchymie. 1677Lond. Gaz. mcclxiv/4 One Livery Coat..with Alcomie Buttons. 1691Ibid. mmdclxxxvi/4 A Hair Camlet Wastecoat with Alkimy Buttons. 1695Ibid. mmmlxxi/4 A strip'd Wastcoat with plain Alcomy Cuffs. 1812W. Tennant Anster Fair v. ii, King James's trumpeter aloud should cry Through his long alchemy the famous name.
†4. fig. Glittering dross. (‘All is not gold that glitters.’) Obs.
1591Harrington Orl. Fur. (Trench Sel. Gl. 4) Though the show of it were glorious, the substance of it was dross, and nothing but alchymy and cozenage.
5. attrib. (See 3.)
1657J. Trapp Comm. Ps. xiii. 6 II. 600 Alchimie-gold..will not passe the seuenth fire.
▪ II. † ˈalchemy, v. Obs.
Also alchyme, alkime.
[f. alchemy n. 3. Cf. to silver, tin, lacquer, etc.]
To plate or wash with another metal; to alloy.
1615T. Adams Blacke Devill 42 So true Gold is alchymed over with a false sophistication. 1622Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 277 They cause them to be Alkimed like silver. 1627Feltham Resolves i. xviii. (1677) 32 It will Alchymy the gold of vertue. |