chemic

chemic

English

Alternative forms

  • chymic (from 16th c.)
  • chymick (16th, 18th c.)

Etymology

    From New Latin chemicus, chimicus, chymicus.

    Pronunciation

    • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkɛmɪk/
      Rhymes: -ɛmɪk

    Adjective

    chemic (not comparable)

    1. (archaic) Practising chemistry (or, earlier, alchemy); pertaining to these sciences.
    2. (obsolete) Produced through alchemy; counterfeit.
      • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, I.217:
        a chymic treasure / Is glittering Youth, which I have spent betimes— / My heart in passion, and my head on rhymes.
    3. (now rare) Chemical.

    Noun

    chemic (plural chemics)

    1. (now rare) A chemist or (earlier) an alchemist.
      • 1633, John Donne, The Comparison:
        like the Chymicks masculine equall fire, / Which in the Lymbecks warme wombe doth inspire / Into th'earths worthlesse part a soule of gold […]
    2. (obsolete) A solution of chloride of lime, used in bleaching.

    Verb

    chemic (third-person singular simple present chemics, present participle chemicking, simple past and past participle chemicked)

    1. (obsolete, transitive) To bleach with a solution of chloride of lime.

    Derived terms

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