chemic

English

Alternative forms
  • chymic (from 16th c.)
  • chymick (16th, 18th c.)

Etymology

From Late Latin chemicus, chimicus, chymicus.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkɛmɪk/
    Rhymes: -ɛmɪk

Adjective

chemic (not comparable)

  1. (archaic) Practising chemistry (or, earlier, alchemy); pertaining to these sciences.
  2. (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.
  3. (now rare) Chemical.

Noun

chemic (plural chemics)

  1. (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 […]
  2. (obsolete) A solution of chloride of lime, used in bleaching.

Verb

chemic (third-person singular simple present chemics, present participle chemicking, simple past and past participle chemicked)

  1. (obsolete, transitive) To bleach with a solution of chloride of lime.
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