empyreuma
nounEtymology From Ancient Greek ἐμπύρευμα (empúreuma, “a live coal covered with ashes”). Compare French empyreume. See empyreal.
1
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Obsolete The particular smell and taste arising from products of decomposition of animal or vegetable substances when burnt in sealed containers.
- If the Liquor retain a certain Empyreuma, or smatch of the fire, thou shalt help it by putting it into a glasse close stopt, and so exposing it to the heat of the sun, and now and then opening the glasse that the fiery impression may exhale, or else let the glasse stand in a cold moist place.1651, John French, Art of Distillation:
- Derived terms
- empyreumatic