alcahest

[ al-kuh-hest ]

/ ˈæl kəˌhɛst /

noun

alkahest.

Nearby words

albuterol, albéniz, albéniz, isaac, alc., alcaeus, alcahest, alcaic, alcaide, alcaids, alcalde, alcaligenes

Definition for alcahest (2 of 2)

alkahest

or al·ca·hest

[ al-kuh-hest ]

/ ˈæl kəˌhɛst /

noun

the universal solvent sought by the alchemists.

Origin of alkahest

First recorded in 1635–45, alkahest is from the late Medieval Latin word alchahest; probably coinage of Paracelsus

Related forms

al·ka·hes·tic, al·ka·hes·ti·cal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for alcahest

Alkahest, Alcahest, al′ka-hest, n. the universal solvent of the alchemists.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various
It was then placed in a dish and set on fire, and the residue that remained was the alcahest.
The Mystery and Romance of Alchemy and Pharmacy|Charles John Samuel Thompson
Alchemy furnishes the theme for one tale; the protagonist seeks an alcahest, a human victim for his crucible.
The Merry-Go-Round|Carl Van Vechten
The alcahest was his celebrated universal medicine, and was considered the greatest mystery of all.
The Mystery and Romance of Alchemy and Pharmacy|Charles John Samuel Thompson

British Dictionary definitions for alcahest (1 of 2)

alcahest

/ (ˈælkəˌhɛst) /

noun

a variant spelling of alkahest

British Dictionary definitions for alcahest (2 of 2)

alkahest

alcahest

/ (ˈælkəˌhɛst) /

noun

the hypothetical universal solvent sought by alchemists

Word Origin for alkahest

C17: 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