The word chemistry derives from the word alchemy, which is found in various forms in European languages.
The word 'alchemy' itself derives from the Arabic word al-kīmiyāʾ (الكيمياء), wherein al- is the definite article 'the'. The ultimate origin of the word is uncertain,[1] but the Arabic term kīmiyāʾ (كيمياء) is likely derived from either the Ancient Greek word khēmeia (χημεία) or the similar khēmia (χημία).[2][3]
The Greek term khēmeia, meaning "cast together" [4] may refer to the art of alloying metals, from root words χύμα (khúma, "fluid"), from χέω (khéō, "I pour").[5] Alternatively, khēmia may be derived from the ancient Egyptian name of Egypt, khem or khm, khame, or khmi, meaning "blackness", likely in reference to the rich dark soil of the Nile river valley.[2]
- ^ Encyclopedia Britannica, 2002 Edition, CD-ROM
- ^ a b "alchemy", entry in The Oxford English Dictionary, J. A. Simpson and E. S. C. Weiner, vol. 1, 2nd ed., 1989, ISBN 0-19-861213-3.
- ^ p. 854, "Arabic alchemy", Georges C. Anawati, pp. 853-885 in Encyclopedia of the history of Arabic science, eds. Roshdi Rashed and Régis Morelon, London: Routledge, 1996, vol. 3, ISBN 0-415-12412-3.
- ^ Weekley, Ernest (1967). Etymological Dictionary of Modern English. New York: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-21873-2
- ^ "Alchemy | Origin and meaning of alchemy by Online Etymology Dictionary".