Hypertext Webster Gateway: "hermetical"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Hermetic \Her*met"ic\, Hermetical \Her*met"ic*al\, a. [F.
herm['e]tique. See Note under {Hermes}, 1.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or taught by, Hermes Trismegistus; as,
hermetic philosophy. Hence: Alchemical; chemic.
``Delusions of the hermetic art.'' --Burke.

The alchemists, as the people were called who tried
to make gold, considered themselves followers of
Hermes, and often called themselves Hermetic
philosophers. --A. B.
Buckley.

2. Of or pertaining to the system which explains the causes
of diseases and the operations of medicine on the
principles of the hermetic philosophy, and which made much
use, as a remedy, of an alkali and an acid; as, hermetic
medicine.

3. Made perfectly close or air-tight by fusion, so that no
gas or spirit can enter or escape; as, an hermetic seal.
See Note under {Hermetically}.

{Hermetic art}, alchemy.

{Hermetic books}.
(a) Books of the Egyptians, which treat of astrology.
(b) Books which treat of universal principles, of the
nature and orders of celestial beings, of medicine,
and other topics.


Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup

Enter word here:
Exact Approx


dict.stokkie.net
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents; see the Webster Gateway FAQ, and also the Back-end/database links and credits.