Dictionary

alchemise en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈælkəmaɪz/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰew- Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Hellenic *-mə Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă) Ancient Greek χῠ́μᾰ (khŭ́mă) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ία (-ía) Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)bor. Arabic الْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ)bor. Medieval Latin alchēmīabor. Old French alkimieder. English alchemy English -ise English alchemise From alchemy + -ise.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To change something's properties by means of alchemy or as if by magic.
   • In tonight's opener, Kevin McCloud revisits the programme's longest-running saga – the five-year (and counting) epic of Stefan Lepkowsky and Annia Shabowska, who have been attempting to alchemise a cutting-edge contemporary home from the unpromising base metal of a derelict mill cottage in Northamptonshire. 2011 September 13, Andrew Mueller, “TV highlights 14/09/2011”, in The Guardian:
   • Their dearest wish was to alchemise iron into gold.
   • Art should alchemise poetry from unexpected ingredients. 2019 May 17, “The Guardian view on the Venice Biennale’s migrant boat: pushing the limits of art”, in The Guardian:
   • Something about this gutsy, heartfelt drama from screenwriter Robert D Siegel and director Darren Aronofsky alchemises Rourke’s conceit into a terrifically engaging, likable and even vulnerable performance. 2009 January 16, Peter Bradshaw, “The Wrestler review – heartfelt drama that alchemises a terrific central performance”, in The Guardian:

Forms

Synonyms

improve · transform · transmute

Translations (2)

fi alkemisoida (to change something's properties by means of alchemy) · pt alquimizar (to change something's properties by means of alchemy)