archeusn.
/ɑːˈkiːəs/ Obsolete exc. Historical.
1. The immaterial principle supposed by the Paracelsians to produce and preside over the activities of the animal and vegetable economy; vital force. (It was held that the chief archeus was situated in the stomach, and that subordinate archei regulated the action of other organs.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > vital principle > [noun]
souleOE
lifeOE
spiritusOE
bloodOE
ghostOE
life and soulOE
quickship?c1225
quicknessc1230
breatha1300
spirita1325
spark1382
naturec1385
sparkle1388
livelinessa1398
rational soula1398
spiracle1398
animal spirit?a1425
vital spiritc1450
soul of the world1525
candle1535
fire1576
three souls1587
vitality?1592
candlelight1596
substance1605
vivacity1611
animality1615
vividity1616
animals1628
life spring1649
archeus1651
vital1670
spirituosity1677
springs of life1681
microcosmetor1684
vital force1702
vital spark (also flame)1704
stamen1718
vis vitae1752
prana1785
Purusha1785
jiva1807
vital force1822
heartbeat1828
world-soul1828
world-spirit1828
life energy1838
life force1848
ghost soul1869
will to live1871
biogen1882
ki1893
mauri1897
élan vital1907
orgone1942
1651 N. Biggs Matæotechnia Medicinæ Praxeωs 183 ⁋247 The Archeus doth daily dispence..so much bloud to the parts, as may serve for their nutrition.
1651 J. French Art Distillation vi. 175 The Archæus, the servant of nature.
1798 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 88 16 The archeus, or vital power, of the bladder.
1848 R. Hooper Med. Dict. (ed. 8) 164 The chief Archeus kept watch at the cardiac orifice of the stomach.
2. (See quot.) Also attributive.
ΚΠ
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Archeus..Also, the highest, most exalted and invisible Spirit that can be separated from mixt Bodies.
1798 in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 88 16 When the archeus spirit of urine meets with a volatile earthy spirit.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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n.1651