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hermetic

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her⋅met⋅ic

[hur-met-ik]
–adjective
1. made airtight by fusion or sealing.
2. not affected by outward influence or power; isolated.
3. (sometimes initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of occult science, esp. alchemy.
4. (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to Hermes Trismegistus or the writings ascribed to him.
Also, her⋅met⋅i⋅cal.


Origin:
1630–40; < ML hermēticus of, pertaining to Hermes Trismegistus, equiv. to L Hermē(s) Hermes + -ticus -tic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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her·met·ic   (hər-mět'ĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Completely sealed, especially against the escape or entry of air.

  2. Impervious to outside interference or influence: the hermetic confines of an isolated life.

  3. often Hermetic

    1. Mythology Of or relating to Hermes Trismegistus or the works ascribed to him.

    2. Having to do with the occult sciences, especially alchemy; magical.


[New Latin hermēticus, alchemical, from Medieval Latin Hermēs (Trismegistus); see Hermes Trismegistus.]
her·met'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hermetic 
1605 (implied in hermetically), "completely sealed," also (1637) "dealing with occult science or alchemy," from L. hermeticus, from Gk. Hermes, god of science and art, among other things, identified by Neoplatonists, mystics, and alchemists with the Egyptian god Thoth as Hermes Trismegistos "Thrice-Great Hermes," who supposedly invented the process of making a glass tube airtight (a process in alchemy) using a secret seal.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: her·met·ic
Pronunciation: (")h&r-'met-ik
Function: adjective
: being airtight or impervious to air —her·met·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Herámes Trisámeágisátus /'h&r-(")mEz-"tris-m&-'jis-t&s,/ Greekmythological character. Hermes Trismegistus was identified by the Greeks with the Egyptian god Thoth. To him was ascribed authorship of various works on astrology, magic, alchemy, and medicine. It wasalso believed that he had invented a magic seal to keep vessels airtight, and from his name the adjective hermetic meaning airtight was derived.
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

hermetic her·met·ic (hər-mět'ĭk) or her·met·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl)
adj.
Completely sealed, especially against the escape or entry of air.


her·met'i·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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