philosopher by fire

English

Etymology

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

Noun

philosopher by fire (plural philosophers by fire)

(obsolete) Synonym of alchemist.
- 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:
  […] alchemists, styled also philosophers by fire, […]

References

alchemist,fire philosopher,philosopher by fire,philosopher of fire at Google Ngram Viewer

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