Etymology: < post-classical Latin chemicus, chimicus (adjective) of or relating to alchemy (12th or 13th cent.), chymicus (adjective) of or relating to alchemy (c1320, 1620 in British sources; 16th cent. in continental sources), of or relating to chemistry (1569), (noun) alchemist (1460), shortened < alchimicus (see alchemic adj.: compare discussion at chemist n.). Compare Middle French, French chimique , adjective (a1590) and noun (a1630 in sense ‘chemist’; also 1587 with uncertain sense), Catalan químic , adjective (c1696), Spanish químico , adjective (1608), Italian chimico , adjective (1585) and noun (1666); also German chemisch , †chymisch , †chimisch (adjective) of or relating to chemistry (1597 or earlier). Compare also Spanish química (1642), Italian chimica (1612), both in sense ‘chemistry’. With use as noun compare chemist n. With use as adjective compare earlier chemistical adj., and also chemistic adj., chemical adj. With sense A. 5 compare earlier chemicking n.English forms in chym- and chem- are after corresponding post-classical Latin forms. The post-classical Latin form chymicus results from etymological association with ancient Greek χυμός juice (see chyme n.), χυμεία being interpreted as ‘infusion’; the post-classical Latin form chemicus results from etymological association with Hellenistic Greek χημία , χημεία (see discussion at alchemy n.).

Etymology: < chemic n.