philosopher by fire

noun

philosopher by fire

noun

Etymology A calque of Latin philosophus per ignem (“philosopher by fire”).

1

Obsolete Synonym of alchemist.

[…] alchemists, styled also philosophers by fire, […]1824, “Barometer”, in Supplement to the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 2, Edinburgh: Printed for A. Constable, →OCLC, page 117:

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