spec. = philosophers' stone, n.

Alchemy. According to certain writers: that variety of the philosophers' stone which was responsible for the purification of metals, esp. in…

spec. in Alchemy (cf. fermentation, n. 1b); sometimes applied to the ‘philosopher's stone’. Also in cosmological speculations (see quot. 1677).

= philosophers' stone, n. 1. Cf. philosophers' egg n. at compounds 3, philosophical egg n. at philosophical, adj. n.compounds.

Lead, esp. regarded as a source or form of the philosopher's stone.

= philosophers' stone, n. 1.

a substance supposed to enable communication with angels.

A mythical solid substance, supposed to change any metal into gold or silver and (according to some) to cure all wounds and diseases and prolong…

= philosophers' stone, n. 1.

= philosophers' stone, n. 1.

Alchemy. water stone of the wise men: a kind of philosophers' stone (philosophers' stone, n. 1a). Obsolete. rare.

The philosophers' stone.