Hermesn.
/ˈhəːmiːz/, U.S. /ˈhərmiz/ 1.
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a. In Greek mythology, a deity, the son of Zeus and Maia, represented as the messenger of the gods, the god of science, commerce, eloquence, and many of the arts of life; commonly figured as a youth, with the caduceus or rod, petasus or brimmed hat, and talaria or winged shoes. Identified by the Romans with Mercury.
b. A statue of Hermes = Herma n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > statuary > [noun] > statue > of gods or goddesses
Venusa1568
Herma1579
Priapus1579
mercury1586
Vulcan1638
victoriaa1684
mercury's statue1684
pantheum1706
signum pantheum1706
xoanon1706
Hermes1728
Minerva1802
Nike1850
Trimurti1877
hermetic-
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) Athens abounded more than any other Place in Hermes's.
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the world > matter > chemistry > elements and compounds > metals > specific elements > mercury > [noun]
quicksilvereOE
mercuryc1395
Hermes1667
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 603 Though by thir powerful Art they binde Volatil Hermes, and call up unbound In various shapes old Proteus from the Sea. View more context for this quotation
3.
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a. Hermes Trismegistus n. [ < Greek Ἑρμῆς τρὶς μέγιστος, Latin Hermes ter-maximus, Hermes thrice-greatest] the name given by the Neo-platonists and the devotees of mysticism and alchemy to the Egyptian god Thoth, regarded as more or less identified with the Grecian Hermes, and as the author of all mysterious doctrines, and especially of the secrets of alchemy. Hence hermetic adj., hermetically adv.
b. † Hermes' seal n. Obsolete = hermetic seal at hermetic adj. 2b.
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the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > [noun] > water- or air-pressure-tight closure
Hermes' seal1605
hermetic seal1663
watertightness1826
pressure tightness1945
1605 T. Tymme tr. J. Du Chesne Pract. Chymicall & Hermeticall Physicke iii. 192 Hermes seale..take the red hote tonges, and therewith wring or nippe the toppe close together; whereby it shall be so closed as if it had no vent before.
1651 J. French Art Distillation v. 119 Closed up..in a glazen womb sealed with Hermes seales.
1662 J. Chandler tr. J. B. van Helmont Oriatrike 75 Let the neck be shut with a Hermes Seal, by the melting of the glasse in the same place.
1756 R. Rolt New Dict. Trade at Hermetical Seal With a pair of pincers twisting it close together, which is called putting on Hermes's seal.
c. † Hermes' fire n. Obsolete = corposant n.; also, a will-o'-the-wisp; also St. Hermes' fire (? by confusion with St. Elmo's fire at St. Elmo n.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > lightning > bead or forked lightning > St. Elmo's fire
heaven's fireOE
St. Elmo's fire1561
Hermes' fire1611
corposant1650
furole1656
Castor1708
composant1751
storm-light1843
storm-firea1847
dead-fire1854
witch-fire1892
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Ardans, S. Hermes fires; the flittering, or going fiers..or flames, which be seen by night, and neere vnto waters.
1658 tr. S. de Cyrano de Bergerac Satyrical Characters xii. 45 I send St. Hermes fire (Jack in a lanthorn) to the marches.
1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 11 The Greeks call'd them Castor and Pollux..which some call Hermes fire; Saint Elmo others.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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