Obs. [ad. med.L. cērātiōn-em, in F. cération, noun of action f. L. cērāre to smear with wax, to wax.] ‘Alchemical term for the action of covering anything with wax, or of softening a hard substance … not capable of being liquefied; also, the fixation of mercury’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.).
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., II. v. Name the vexations, and the martyrizations of mettalls in the worke … Putrefaction, Solution, Ablution … Calcination, Ceration, and Fixation.
1678. R. R[ussell], trans. Geber, II. I. 4. xviii. 139. Ceration is the mollification of an hard Thing not fusible unto Liquefaction.
1721–1800. Bailey, Ceration, among Chymists, the making of a Substance fit to be dissolved, or melted.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Ceration, in chymistry, the operation of waxing.
