chemical

chemical
\ \ [16] Essentially chemical, and the related chemistry and chemist, come from alchemy with the initial al- dropped. Alchemy itself is of Arabic origin; al represents the Arabic definite article ‘the’, while the second element was borrowed from Greek khēmíāalchemy’.
\ \ Loss of al- seems to have taken place originally in French, so the immediate source of the English words was French chimiste and chimique (whence the now obsolete English chemic, on which chemical was based). At first this whole group of words continued to be used in the same sense as its progenitor alchemy; it is not really until the 17th century that we find it being consistently applied to what we would now recognize as the scientific discipline of chemistry.
\ \ Cf.ALCHEMY

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chemical — Chem ic*al, a. Pertaining to chemistry; characterized or produced by the forces and operations of chemistry; employed in the processes of chemistry; as, chemical changes; chemical combinations. [1913 Webster] {Chemical attraction} or {Chemical… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chemical — [kem′i kəl] adj. [ CHEMIC + AL] 1. of or having to do with chemistry 2. made by or used in chemistry 3. operated or made by the use of chemicals [chemical burns ] ☆ 4. of or involving the use of a drug, alcoholic liquor, etc. [chemical… …   English World dictionary

  • chemical — Ⅰ. chemical UK US /ˈkemɪkəl/ noun [C] ► any basic substance which is used in or produced by a reaction involving changes to atoms or molecules: »The government has pledged to reduce the amount of chemicals used in food production. »Each year,… …   Financial and business terms

  • Chemical — Chem ic*al, n. A substance used for producing a chemical effect; a reagent. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chemical — (adj.) 1570s, from chemic of alchemy (a worn down derivative of M.L. alchimicus; see ALCHEMY (Cf. alchemy)) + AL (Cf. al) (1). Related: Chemically …   Etymology dictionary

  • chemical — [adj] concerned with atom and molecule change actinic, alchemical, enzymatic, synthesized, synthetic, synthetical; concept 536 …   New thesaurus

  • chemical — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ relating to chemistry or chemicals. ► NOUN ▪ a distinct compound or substance, especially one which has been artificially prepared or purified. DERIVATIVES chemically adverb. ORIGIN French chimique, from Latin alchimia alchemy …   English terms dictionary

  • chemical — chemically, adv. /kem i keuhl/, n. 1. a substance produced by or used in a chemical process. 2. chemicals, Slang. narcotic or mind altering drugs or substances. adj. 3. of, used in, produced by, or concerned with chemistry or chemicals: a… …   Universalium

  • chemical — Relating to chemistry. * * * chem·i·cal kem i kəl adj 1) of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry 2 a) acting or operated or produced by chemicals b) detectable by chemical means chem·i·cal·ly i k(ə )lē adv chemical n …   Medical dictionary

  • chemical — [[t]ke̱mɪk(ə)l[/t]] ♦♦ chemicals 1) ADJ: ADJ n Chemical means involving or resulting from a reaction between two or more substances, or relating to the substances that something consists of. ...chemical reactions that cause ozone destruction.… …   English dictionary

  • chemical — adj. & n. adj. of, made by, or employing chemistry or chemicals. n. a substance obtained or used in chemistry. Phrases and idioms: chemical bond the force holding atoms together in a molecule or crystal. chemical engineer one engaged in chemical… …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”