philosopher by fire

English

Etymology

From a calque of the Latin philosophus per ignem (“philosopher by means of fire”, literally “philosopher by fire”).

Noun

philosopher by fire (plural philosophers by fire)

(obsolete) An alchemist.
- 1824, “Barometer”, in Supplement to the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 2, Edinburgh: Printed for A. Constable, OCLC 675789003, page 117:
  […] alchemists, styled also philosophers by fire, […]
- For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:philosopher by fire.

Synonyms

See Thesaurus:alchemist

References

alchemist,fire philosopher,philosopher by fire,philosopher of fire at Google Ngram Viewer

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