Alchemy
/ˈæl.kə.mi/noun
A medieval chemical science aimed at the transmutation of base metals into gold and the discovery of a universal elixir.
Did you know?The word 'alchemy' is derived from the Arabic 'al-kīmiyā', reflecting the influence of Arabic scholars on the development of chemistry.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Egyptian
Egyptian
khem
“Black land (referring to fertile land near the Nile)”
Ancient Greek
Greek
khēmia
“The art of transmuting metals”
Arabic
Arabic
al-kīmiyā
“The art of transformation”
Medieval Latin
Latin
alchimia
“The art of alchemy”
Middle English
English
alchymie
“The study of alchemy”
Modern English
English
Alchemy
“Medieval chemical science”