alkahest
or al·ca·hest
[ al-kuh-hest ]
noun
the universal solvent sought by the alchemists.
Origin of alkahest
1First recorded in 1635–45, alkahest is from the late Medieval Latin word alchahest; probably coinage of Paracelsus
Other words from alkahest
- al·ka·hes·tic, al·ka·hes·ti·cal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for alkahest
alkahest
alcahest
/ (ˈælkəˌhɛst) /
noun
the hypothetical universal solvent sought by alchemists
Origin of alkahest
1C17: apparently coined by Paracelsus on the model of Arabic words
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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