alchemy
(noun) a pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times
chemistry, interpersonal chemistry, alchemy
(noun) the way two individuals relate to each other; “their chemistry was wrong from the beginning -- they hated each other”; “a mysterious alchemy brought them together”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
alchemy (countable and uncountable, plural alchemies)
(uncountable) The ancient search for a universal panacea, and of the philosopher's stone, that eventually developed into chemistry.
(countable) The causing of any sort of mysterious sudden transmutation.
(computing, slang, countable) Any elaborate transformation process or algorithm.
Source: Wiktionary
Al"che*my, n. Etym: [OF. alkemie, arquemie, F. alchimie, Ar. al- kimia, fr. late Gr. alquimia, It. alchimia. Gr. fundere to pour, Goth. guitan, AS. geĂłtan, to pour, and so to E. fuse. See Fuse, and cf. Chemistry.]
1. An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry.
2. A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet. [Obs.] Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy. Milton.
3. Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious. Kissing with golden face the meadows green, Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
16 April 2025
(adjective) marked by richness and fullness of flavor; “a rich ruby port”; “full-bodied wines”; “a robust claret”; “the robust flavor of fresh-brewed coffee”
The world’s most expensive coffee costs more than US$700 per kilogram. Asian palm civet – a cat-like creature in Indonesia, eats fruits, including select coffee cherries. It excretes partially digested seeds that produce a smooth, less acidic brew of coffee called kopi luwak.
