alembic

[ uh-lem-bik ]

noun

1. a vessel with a beaked cap or head, formerly used in distilling.
2. anything that transforms, purifies, or refines.

alembic

/ əˈlɛmbɪk /

noun

1. an obsolete type of retort used for distillation
2. anything that distils or purifies

Word History and Origins

Origin of alembic¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, variant of alambic, from Medieval Latin alambicus, from dialectal Arabic al anbīq “the still,” from Greek ámbix (stem ámbīk- ) “cup, vessel with a spout”

Word History and Origins

Origin of alembic¹

C14: from Medieval Latin alembicum, from Arabic al-anbīq the still, from Greek ambix cup

Example Sentences

Gracie packed up her Wellington boots, long-sleeved shirts, and trousers, and flew to Caracas with a five-liter alembic still.

From The Daily Beast

All these were to be reduced to powder and placed in a glass alembic and dissolved.

From Project Gutenberg

Alembic, al-em′bik, n. a vessel used by the old chemists in distillation.

From Project Gutenberg

I then turned my attention to a receiver, connected by a worm with an alembic on the furnace.

From Project Gutenberg

You pass it through alembic after alembic, it comes out still a Dishonesty, with a new dress on it, a new colour to it.

From Project Gutenberg

Tortured in the human alembic, she was at length resolved, seeing with a vision that pierced all her horizons.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bag
• bottle
• bowl
• box
• bucket
• can
• canister
• capsule
• carton
• crate
• dish
• jar
• jug
• kettle
• package
• packet
• pail
• pot
• pouch
• sack