Forms: 4–5 alkamy(e, alknamy(e, alkenamye, -emye, alconomy(e, 5 alcanamy, 6 alkemy, alcomye, alchumie, 6–7 alchimie, -ymie, 7 alkimy, -camy, -cumy, 7–8 alchimy, 6– alchymy, 7– alchemy. [a. OFr. alquimie, -emie, -kemie, -camie (also ar-), ad. med.L. alchimia (Pr. alkimia, Sp. alquimia, It. alchimia), a. Arab. al-kīmīā, i.e., al the + kīmīā, apparently a. Gr. χημία, χημεία, found (c. 300) in the Decree of Diocletian against ‘the old writings of the Egyptians, which treat of the χημία (transmutation) of gold and silver’; hence the word is explained by most as ‘Egyptian art,’ and identified with χημία, Gr. form (in Plutarch) of the native name of Egypt (land of Khem or Khamè, hieroglyphic Khmi, ‘black earth,’ in contrast to the desert sand). If so, it was afterwards etymologically confused with the like-sounding Gr. χῡμεία, pouring, infusion, f. χυ- pf. stem of χέ-ειν to pour, cf. χῡμός juice, sap, which seemed to explain its meaning; hence the Renascence spelling alchymia and chymistry. Mahn (Etym. Unt. 69) however concludes, after an elaborate investigation, that Gr. χῡμεία was probably the original, 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, as in Diocletian’s decree. From the Alexandrians the art and name were adopted by the Arabs, whence they returned to Europe by way of Spain. Of the 14–15th c. forms, Alconomy was evidently assimilated to Astronomy, the two sciences going together.]
1. The chemistry of the Middle Ages and 16th c.; now applied distinctively to the pursuit of the transmutation of baser metals into gold, which (with the search for the alkahest or universal solvent, and the panacea or universal remedy) constituted the chief practical object of early chemistry.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. [152 Astronomye is hard þing] 157. Experimentis of Alconomye [v.r. alkenemye, alknamye]. Ibid. (1377), B. X. 212. Experimentz of alkamye [v.r. alkenemye, alconomie, alle kyn amye] &183; þe poeple to deceyue.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 84. They founde thilke experience Which cleped is alconomy.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xvi. (1495), 776. The asshes of a cokatrice be acountyd good and proffytable in werkyng of Alkamye: and namely in tornynge and chaungynge of metalle.
1509. Barclay, Ship of Fooles (1570), 211. The vayne and disceatfull craft of alkemy.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., I. iii. 159. That which would appeare Offence in vs, His Countenance, like richest Alchymie, Will change to Vertue.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. IV. vii. (1651), 167. What is … Alcumy, but a bundle of errors?
1683. Pettus, Fleta Min., II. 1. Alchimie … an Art of Distilling or Drawing Quintessences out of Metals by Fire.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. 371. Philosophy, with the aid of experience, has at length banished the study of alchymy.
1837. Whewell, Induct. Sc. (1857), I. 232. It has been usual to say that Alchemy was the mother of Chemistry.
2. fig. Magic or miraculous power of transmutation or extraction.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xxxiii. A glorious morning … Guilding pale streames with heauenly alcumy.
1640. Quarles, Enchir., lxiii. It is a Princely Alchymie, out of a necessary Warre to extract an honourable Peace.
1824. Byron, Don. J., II. cciii. Wisdom, ever on the watch to rob Joy of its alchemy.
1872. Blackie, Lays of Highl., 35. Toilsome Nature’s patient alchemy.
† 3. A metallic composition imitating gold; ‘alchemy gold.’ Hence applied to a trumpet of such metal, or of brass as its chief constituent. Obs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., Alkamye, metalle (1499 alcamyn) Alkamia.
1483. Cath. Angl., Alcanamy, corinthium.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. iv. 130. In byrnist gold and finest alcomye.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., Concl. Coines of gold, siluer, alcumy and copper.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 516. Four speedy cherubim Put to their mouths the sounding alchymie.
1677. Lond. Gaz., mcclxiv/4. One Livery Coat … with Alcomie Buttons. Ibid. (1691), mmdclxxxvi/4. A Hair Camlet Wastecoat with Alkimy Buttons. Ibid. (1695), mmmlxxi/4. A strip’d Wastcoat with plain Alcomy Cuffs.
1812. W. Tennant, Anster Fair, V. ii. King James’s trumpeter aloud should cry Through his long alchemy the famous name.
† 4. fig. Glittering dross. (‘All is not gold that glitters.’) Obs.
1591. Harrington, Orl. Fur. (Trench Sel. Gl. 4). Though the show of it were glorious, the substance of it was dross, and nothing but alchymy and cozenage.
5. attrib. (See 3.)
1657. J. Trapp, Comm. Ps. xiii. 6, II. 600. Alchimie-gold … will not passe the seuenth fire.
