| 释义 |
alchemyn.adj. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French alkemye, alkenamye; Latin alchimia. Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman alkemye, Anglo-Norman and Middle French alkemie, Middle French alchemie, alchymie, alquemie, alquimie, alcamie, alchumie, arquemie, etc., also (in sense A. 2) Anglo-Norman alkenamye, alkenomye (French alchimie , †alchemie , †alchymie , †arquemie ) branch of medieval science whose goal was the transmutation of baser metals into gold (1275 in Old French as alkimie ), metal alloy imitating gold, alloy of gold or silver with a baser metal (1387), intrigue (late 14th cent.), complex and more or less mysterious activity (a1460), trickery, deceit (1547), and its etymon (ii) post-classical Latin alchimia, alchymia, alkimia, denoting the science (frequently from 12th cent. in British sources; also in continental sources), and denoting an alloy resembling gold in colour (1287 in a British source) < Arabic al-kīmiyā' < al the + kīmiyā' branch of medieval science whose goal was the transmutation of baser metals into gold (the use in sense A. 2 is not paralleled in Arabic), apparently (perhaps via Syriac kīmiyā ) < Hellenistic Greek χημία , χημεία , χυμεία (c300), further origin uncertain and disputed (see below). Compare Catalan alquímia (13th cent.), Spanish alquimia (c1250), Portuguese alquimia (1555; 1532 as †alchimia ), Italian alchimia (a1321; beginning of the 14th cent. as †alcimmia , a1257 as †alchima ); also Middle Dutch alkemie (late 15th cent.; Dutch alchemie ), Middle Low German alchemy , Middle High German alchimei (German Alchimie , †Alchemie ). Compare later chemistry n., and see the note at chemistry n. 1 on the eventual semantic distinction between that word and alchemy . Compare also later chemy n.Further etymology. Hellenistic Greek χημία , χημεία occurs c300 in a decree of the Roman Emperor Diocletian against ‘the old writings of the Egyptians, which treat of the χημία (transmutation) of gold and silver’. Hence, many scholars have postulated a supposed original sense ‘Egyptian art’ for this word, and identified it with Hellenistic Greek Χημία (Plutarch), a name for Egypt ( < Coptic Kēme < ancient Egyptian Kmt Egypt, lit. ‘the black land’ < km black, the Nile Valley being so named on account of the darker colour of its earth, in contrast to the desert sand). If so, it was apparently subsequently associated with the homophonic Hellenistic Greek χυμεία act of pouring, infusion ( < ancient Greek χυ- , perfect stem of χεῖν to pour; compare ancient Greek χυμός juice, sap: see chyme n.), which was taken to explain its meaning (since pouring was a frequent action in alchemical experiments). The Greek spelling with medial -υ- underlies post-classical Latin alchymia and hence the French and English spellings with medial y ; compare also the forms with medial y at chemic n. and adj., chemy n., chemistry n., and other words of the same family. However, it has also been argued ( C. A. F. Mahn Etymol. Untersuchungen auf dem Gebiete der roman. Sprachen (1858) lxix. 81–5) that Hellenistic Greek χυμεία was probably the original form (rather than either χημεία or χημία ), 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 . Recent scholarship appears to favour the Coptic and Egyptian etymology of the Greek word; see e.g. D. Bain ‘Μελανῖτις γῆ in the Cyranides and Related Texts’, in T. E. Klutz (ed.) Magic in the Biblical World (2003) 191–218, especially 204–8. Some scholars have even suggested that the Arabic word may have been directly borrowed < Coptic. Although most modern authoritative etymological dictionaries of European languages agree on the apparent Greek origin of the Arabic word, it has repeatedly been suggested (especially in various works by J. Needham) that it was borrowed instead < Middle Chinese *kim (Chinese jīn metal, gold). Form history. The α. forms (not paralleled in French) show alteration after astronomy n., the name of another subject which in the Middle Ages was similarly associated with occult practices. Some of the α. forms additionally show metathesis of consonants; compare post-classical Latin alkemonia (1329 in a British source). With the γ. forms compare Middle French, French †arquemie (c1361). Compare also the β. forms at alchemist n., and see discussion at that entry. A. n. I. Senses relating to the transformation of substances, esp of base metal into gold. the world > matter > alchemy > [noun] c1390 (a1376) W. Langland (Vernon) (1867) A. xi. l. 157 Astronomye is hard þing..Experimentis of Alconomye [c1400 Trin. Cambr. alkenemye; a1425 Univ. Oxf. alknamye]..dele with hem neuere. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iv. l. 2459 (MED) Thei [sc. Philosophres] founden thilke experience, Which cleped is Alconomie, Wherof the Selver multeplie Thei made and ek the gold also. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. x. l. 212 Experimentz of alkamye [c1400 Trin. Cambr. alkenamye; a1500 Oriel alkenemye; c1450 Rawl. alconomie; a1450 Bodl. alle kyn amye] þe poeple to deceyue. a1475 (1889) 3 Þis is verry gold of þe myn..for gold of alkamy maad with corosyues distroieþ kynde. 1509 A. Barclay (Pynson) f. ccxxiiv The vayne & disceytfull craft of alkemy. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. iii. 159 That which would appeare Offence in vs, His Countenance, like richest Alchymie, Will change to Vertue. View more context for this quotation 1628 R. Burton (ed. 3) i. ii. iv. vii. 159 What is..Alcumy, but a bundle of errors? 1683 J. Pettus Ess. Metallick Words (at cited word), in ii Alchimie..an Art of Distilling or Drawing Quintessences out of Metals by Fire. 1721 R. Bradley tr. G. A. Agricola 125 The safest Course is to hold this excellent Definition of Alchymy, that it is an Art, whose Beginning is Lying; whose middle State is Labouring; and whose End is Begging. 1776 E. Gibbon I. 371 Philosophy, with the aid of experience, has at length banished the study of alchymy. 1837 W. Whewell I. 305 It has been usual to say that alchemy was the mother of chemistry. 1864 Nov. 594/2 By what alchemy would they create gold and silver? By what magic would they fill the coffers? 1895 Apr. 260 Whence came this expectation, these new and bright hopes? Reason could not find it; none of their astrologies could read it, not could their alchemies hold it in solution. 1918 June 531 The fundamental art—the art which led up to alchemy—was the dyeing of fabrics, especially with Tyrian purple. 1944 W. C. Dampier v. 76 During his early years in Cambridge,..Newton studied mystical writings and much theological literature as well as treatises on alchemy. 1989 W. Weaver tr. U. Eco xxx. 199 Some defended the Rosicrucians, others..accused them of devil worship, alchemy, and heresy. 2008 E. Frattaroli in P. Young-Eisendrath & T. Dawson (ed. 2) ix. 186 All Jung's obscure works on alchemy are really about symbolic incest. the world > matter > alchemy > other alchemical substances or theories > [noun] > gold > elements imitating gold society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > alloy > [noun] > alloy of precious metals > gold alloy society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > brass instruments > [noun] > trumpet > types of a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iv. l. 2578 (MED) He [sc. the philosopher's stone] doth the werk to be parfit Of thilke Elixer which men calle Alconomie. 1483 (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 6 Alcanamy, corinthium. 1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil xii. iv. 130 In birnist gold, and finest alcomye. 1573 Edinb. Test. III. f. 30v, in at Alcomy Ane basine of akamie. 1611 J. Speed Summary Concl. §7 Coines of gold, siluer, alcumy, and copper. 1667 J. Milton ii. 517 Four speedy Cherubim Put to thir mouths the sounding Alchymie . View more context for this quotation 1773 J. Buchanan in J. Milton (new ed.) 128 (note) Alchemy is a mixture of metals of which spoons, &c. are made. 1812 W. Tennant v. ii. 106 King James's trumpeter aloud should cry Through his long alchemy the famous name. 1899 B. W. Green 38 Achemy,..a mixed metal used for utensils, a modification of brass. 1902 Nov. 305/1 Spoons were rarely of silver (until toward the end of the seventeenth century), being of pewter, horn, alchymy or wood. 1954 11 404 The metal alchemy is, then, appropriately enough a metallurgical product of the evil angels. II. Figurative uses. the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > worthless the world > matter > light > light emitted in particular manner > [noun] > spark or glittering light > that which glitters > of no value the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > [noun] > something showy 1547 Queen Katherine Parr sig. D.viv For he is a persecutor of the gospel, and grace,..brynging many soules to hell, with his alchimye and counterfeit money, deceyuing the poore soules vnder ye pretence of holines. 1591 J. Harington tr. L. Ariosto 410 Though the show of it were glorious, the substaunce of it was drosse, and nothing but Alcumie, and cosenage. a1631 J. Donne (1633) 200 Compar'd to this, All honor's mimique; All wealth alchimie. 1645 14 All is not gold that glisters, and its feared if some great pretended zealots..were well rub'd, they would prove but Alchimy. 1707 N. Tate ii. 24 What are Harlots?.. They are couzening Alchymy: Shipwrecks in calmest Weather. 1869 W. E. H. Lecky Hist. European Morals in Oct. 522 Your sense of duty is a sense of pleasure, your virtue is a disease, your analysis is alchemy. 2010 26 Oct. (Business section) b3/1 The pretence that risk-free deposits can be supported by risky assets is alchemy. the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > [noun] > power of transmutation or extraction the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > [noun] > changing in shape or form > by supernatural means 1580 J. Bell tr. J. Foxe ii. f. 109 By a certaine kinde of Alcumie [L. quadam alcumistica] they poure foorth substaunce of things from out one substance into an other, and so produce out of the substaunce of breade and wine, a certaine contrarie nature of mans flesh and blood. 1609 W. Shakespeare xxxiii. sig. C3v A glorious morning..Guilding pale streames with heauenly alcumy. 1640 F. Quarles lxiii It is a Princely Alchymie, out of a necessary Warre to extract an honourable Peace. 1784 W. Hayley Marcella i. i, in 120 Let the vain sons of Italy and France Attempt, by mental alchemy, to turn The lead of falshood into wisdom's gold. 1819 Ld. Byron cciii. 220 Wisdom, ever on the watch to rob Joy of its alchymy. 1871 M. C. Ames vi. 56/1 The island was full of lovely and lonely haunts, where Nature wrought her delicious alchemies alone. a1916 J. Todhunter (1927) ii. 119 It is the cleansing alchemy of love. 1938 Oct. 58/3 The strange alchemy known as cooking. 1941 L. MacNeice 23 The park becomes a jungle In the alchemy of night. 2003 Apr. 16/2 The real alchemy lies in glances, stances, poses, instinctive silence and carefully studied noise. B. adj. (Harl. 221) 9 Alkamye metalle [1499 Pynson alcamyn], alkamia. 1638 in C. J. Hoadly (1857) 4 And the English planters..give un[to] ye s[ai]d sachem, counsell & company of ye Quinopiocke Indians, twelve coates of English trucking coath, twelve alcumy spoones, [etc.]. 1650 J. Trapp (Song of Sol. iii. 10) 240 True gold will comfort the fainting heart, which Alchymy gold will not. 1657 J. Trapp II. 600 Alchimie-gold..will not passe the seuenth fire. 1677 mcclxiv/4 One Livery Coat..with Alcomie Buttons. 1695 mmmlxxi/4 A strip'd Wastcoat with plain Alcomy Cuffs. 1714 S. Sewall 30 Jan. (1879) II. 419 I presented my Son and daughter with..6. Alchimy spoons. 1900 Feb. 180/1 Alchemy spoons were quite as common as pewter. 2004 R. Morriss iii. 72 The correspondence of John Russell..is replete with gifts from overseas that included..alchymy spoons for kitchen use, cayenne butter, and above all wine. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online June 2022). alchemyv. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: alchemy n. society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > mix metals the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > cover [verb (transitive)] > cover and protect > plate 1615 T. Adams 42 So true gold is alchym'd ouer with a false sophistication. 1622 G. de Malynes 277 They cause them to be Alkimed like silver. 1628 O. Felltham xviii. sig. L5 It will Alchimy the gold of vertue. 1911 Aug. 689 The right to vote has been alchemied, through the crucible of fraud and dishonor, into a perpetual franchise to betray. 1933 T. Wolfe in Aug. 53/1 From the grim gray of their skies they had alchemied gold. 2010 L. Fuchs 86 Vast, lush plantations alchemied sunlight into fruit. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021). <  n.adj.c1390 v.1615 |
