chemic
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Late Latin chemicus, chimicus, chymicus.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
chemic (not comparable)
- (archaic) Practising chemistry (or, earlier, alchemy); pertaining to these sciences.
- (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.
- (now rare) Chemical.
Noun edit
chemic (plural chemics)
- (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 […]
- (obsolete) A solution of chloride of lime, used in bleaching.
Verb edit
chemic (third-person singular simple present chemics, present participle chemicking, simple past and past participle chemicked)
- (obsolete, transitive) To bleach with a solution of chloride of lime.