Alchemical

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to a historical philosophical tradition that sought to transform base metals into gold and discover a universal elixir
2. Pertaining to a blend of chemistry and mysticism that explores transformation and the creation of substances with magical properties
3. Describing a process or methodology that symbolizes profound change or transformation, often with spiritual or metaphorical implications

Etymology: Alchemical is an adjective built from "alchemy" plus the suffix "-ical", so its story is the story of the older noun. The noun came into English from Medieval Latin "alchēmia", which had passed through Old French "alkimie". Behind that lies Arabic "al-kīmiyāʔ", which carried the Greek word "khumeia", a term for the craft of working metals and dyes. Greek "khumeia" itself is a later formation, from "khumos" meaning juice or metal, and it is possible that the Arabic word also reflects an older Egyptian term, though the source for that link is uncertain. The suffix does the adjectival work. English took "-ical" from Latin "-icus" through Old French and Middle English, and attached it to nouns ending in "-y" or "-ic", so "alchemy" became "alchemical". The Latin "-icus" was itself a Greek-derived ending that meant "relating to", which is why such adjectives so often mean "pertaining to the thing named".

Synonyms: mystical, magical, transformative, esoteric, metaphysical

Antonyms: ordinary, mundane, realistic, material, earthly