ALKAHEST

alkahest, alcahest, universal solvent

(noun) hypothetical universal solvent once sought by alchemists

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

alkahest (plural alkahests)

(now historical) A universal solvent sought by the alchemists. [from 17th c.]

Source: Wiktionary


Al"ka*hest, n. Etym: [LL. alchahest, F. alcahest, a word that has an Arabic appearance, but was probably arbitrarily formed by Paracelsus.]

Definition: The fabled "universal solvent" of the alchemists; a menstruum capable of dissolving all bodies.

– Al`ka*hes"tic, a.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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THOUGHTFULLY

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