the pseudoscientific predecessor of chemistry that sought a method of transmuting base metals into gold, an elixir to prolong life indefinitely, a panacea or universal remedy, and an alkahest or universal solvent
2.
a power like that of alchemy
her beauty had a potent alchemy
Derived forms
alchemic (ælˈkɛmɪk), alchemical (alˈchemical) or alchemistic (ˌalchemˈistic)
adjective
Word origin
C14 alkamye, via Old French from Medieval Latin alchimia, from Arabic al-kīmiyā', from al the + kīmiyā' transmutation, from Late Greek khēmeia the art of transmutation