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alchemy

noun
al·​che·​my | \ ˈal-kə-mē How to pronounce alchemy (audio) \

Definition of alchemy

1 : a medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy aiming to achieve the transmutation of the base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for disease, and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life
2 : a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way … the practitioners of financial alchemy that transformed the world of money in the 1980's …— Gordon Williams
3 : an inexplicable or mysterious transmuting
Other Words from alchemy Alchemist: Someone Who Transforms Things for the Better The History of Alchemy More Example Sentences Learn More about alchemy

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Other Words from alchemy

alchemical \ -​mi-​kəl How to pronounce alchemical (audio) \ or less commonly alchemic \ al-​ˈke-​mik How to pronounce alchemic (audio) \ adjective
alchemically \ -​mi-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce alchemically (audio) \ adverb

Alchemist: Someone Who Transforms Things for the Better

Today we recognize alchemy as a pseudoscience, and give chemistry its rightful place as a serious scientific field, but the two terms initially overlapped in meaning before separating by the 17th century, just as astrology and astronomy did during the same period.

Alchemy and alchemist are in fact older words than chemistry and chemist in English. Alchemists believed that lead could be “perfected” into gold, that diseases could be cured, and that life could be prolonged through transmutation, or a change of some essential element into a superior form. Their secretive experiments, usually involving heat and the mixing of liquids, led to the development of pharmacology and the rise of modern chemistry.

The long route to English for alchemist began with the Greek word chēmeia, which probably came from the word chyma (“fluid”), derived from the verb chein, meaning “to pour.” It then passed to Arabic, which added its definite article al- (“the”) to the Greek root. The word then passed from Latin to French before coming to English. Some other words derived from Arabic also retain the al- in English, such as algebra, algorithm, and alcohol; in fact, the transformative liquid that was constantly being sought through experimentation by alchemists is another word with the Arabic al- prefix: elixir.

This power to transform things for the better, real or imagined, led to figurative meanings for alchemy and alchemist.

The History of Alchemy

The medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy that focused on the attempt to change less valuable metals into gold, to find a universal cure for disease, and to discover a means of prolonging life indefinitely is called alchemy. It was practiced in much of the ancient world, from China and India to Greece. Alchemy migrated to Egypt and was later revived in 12th-century Europe through translations of Arabic texts into Latin. Medieval European alchemists made some useful discoveries, including mineral acids and alcohol. The revival led to the development of pharmacology and to the rise of modern chemistry. The gold-making processes of alchemists were finally discredited, but not until the 19th century.

Examples of alchemy in a Sentence

She practiced her alchemy in the kitchen, turning a pile of vegetables into a delicious salad. The company hoped for some sort of economic alchemy that would improve business.

Recent Examples on the Web

 But whatever alchemy transforms a candidate’s strengths into broad public support hasn’t happened yet for Booker. — Eric Lach, The New Yorker, "Cory Booker Tries to Meet the Moral Moment," 8 Aug. 2019 John Heimbuch and David Pisa concocted the story – which trucks in magic and alchemy, travel among dimensions and Threats to Our Existence. — Dominic P. Papatola, Twin Cities, "Review: There’s no escaping the engaging ‘Cabal’," 26 July 2019 Algebra, alchemy, artichoke, alcohol, and apricot all derive from Arabic words which came to the West during the age of Crusades. — Constant Mews, Quartz, "Western civilization as we know it wouldn’t exist without Islamic culture," 18 July 2019 The show, about a SoCal surfer dude named Dud who looks for healing and purpose in a club based around alchemy and fellowship, is unique, clever, mellow, and sunny, and its wonderful cast includes Wyatt Russell and Sonya Cassidy. — Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, "Expect to see Paul Giamatti in season 2 of ‘Lodge 49’," 26 July 2019 Today, the same alchemy that pervades his original experience carried over to all of the spin-off productions, getting a fresh jolt of creative energy each time -- including, yet again, with the new incarnation. — Scott Huver, CNN, "The 'Circle of Life' brings singer Lebo M back to 'The Lion King'," 17 July 2019 There was just something so special, some alchemy in this bottle that took me to old leatherbound books, tobacco barns of my childhood and stories spun under a summer sky. — Dana Mcmahan, The Courier-Journal, "Bourbon buyer's remorse: I bought a really expensive bourbon and regret it," 8 July 2019 By some strange alchemy, Jackson Brodie is both the heart of these books and the least interesting character in them. — Janet Maslin, New York Times, "A Literary Detective Returns to Find Trouble in the Country Club Set," 17 June 2019 But in some interactions there’s an alchemy at work, the meeting of two minds sparking a change in both during which something new—less tangible than gold, but nonetheless beautiful—is created. — Cassie Werber, Quartz at Work, "How to have great conversations with strangers," 25 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alchemy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of alchemy

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for alchemy

Middle English alkamie, alquemie, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French alkimie, from Medieval Latin alchymia, from Arabic al-kīmiyā', from al the + kīmiyā' alchemy, from Late Greek chēmeia

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More Definitions for alchemy

alchemy

noun
al·​che·​my | \ ˈal-kə-mē How to pronounce alchemy (audio) \

Kids Definition of alchemy

: a science that was used in the Middle Ages with the goal of changing ordinary metals into gold

alchemy

noun
al·​che·​my | \ ˈal-kə-mē How to pronounce alchemy (audio) \
plural alchemies

Medical Definition of alchemy

: the medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy whose aims were the transmutation of the base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for diseases, and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life

Other Words from alchemy

alchemist \ -​məst How to pronounce alchemist (audio) \ noun
alchemistic \ ˌal-​kə-​ˈmis-​tik How to pronounce alchemistic (audio) \ or alchemistical \ -​ti-​kəl How to pronounce alchemistical (audio) \ adjective

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