alchemist

C1 Topic:People & Society

US /ˈælkəmɪst/ UK /ˈælkəmɪst/ See IPA manual

Freq #22379

Meanings

1

noun
a person who practices alchemy, historically seeking transformations such as turning base metals into gold

The alchemist heated the mineral mixture while searching for the philosopher's stone.
2

noun
a person who transforms ordinary materials or ideas into something remarkable

The chef was an alchemist who turned simple vegetables into an elaborate feast.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a person who practices... practitioner of alchemy

2 noun · a person who transforms... transformer magician

Word family

Derived forms alchemisticalchemistical

Related forms alchemy alchemical elixirphilosopher's stone

Etymology

From Old French alquemiste, through Medieval Latin alchemista, formed from alchemy + -ist. Alchemy ultimately comes through Arabic al-kimiya, with the Arabic article al- attached to a word inherited from Greek khemeia or khymeia, referring to the art of alloying or transmuting metals.

Topics

People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# alchemist

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈælkəmɪst/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈælkəmɪst/
**Frequency rank:** 22379

## Meanings
1. a person who practices alchemy, historically seeking transformations such as turning base metals into gold
2. a person who transforms ordinary materials or ideas into something remarkable

## Examples
- The alchemist heated the mineral mixture while searching for the philosopher's stone.
- The chef was an alchemist who turned simple vegetables into an elaborate feast.

## Synonyms
- practitioner of alchemy
- transformer
- magician

## Derived Forms
- alchemistic
- alchemistical

## Related Forms
- alchemy
- alchemical
- elixir
- philosopher's stone

## Etymology
From Old French alquemiste, through Medieval Latin alchemista, formed from alchemy + -ist. Alchemy ultimately comes through Arabic al-kimiya, with the Arabic article al- attached to a word inherited from Greek khemeia or khymeia, referring to the art of alloying or transmuting metals.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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