单词 | passive principles |
释义 | > as lemmaspassive principles a. Chemistry and Alchemy. Originally: each of three simple substances of which all bodies were believed to be composed and which were thought to activate their properties, namely mercury (or spirit), salt, and sulphur (or oil). In later use: each of usually five simple substances or elements of which all bodies were believed to be composed, usually consisting of the three named above (more fully active principles), with the addition of two other substances (more fully passive principles), namely water (or phlegm) and earth (or caput mortuum), but sometimes also including the other two ancient elements (air and fire). Cf. element n. 1b. Now historical. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > alchemy > alchemical elements > [noun] elementa1300 spirita1393 bodya1398 originalsc1484 red mana1500 principlea1550 principium1684 a1550 ( G. Ripley Compend of Alchemy (Bodl. e Mus.) f. 43v Mercurie of other mettales essenciall, Is the principle of our stone materiall. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. v. 86 And so likewise in the extinction of gold, we must not conceive it parteth with any of its salt or dissoluble principle thereby.., for the parts thereof are fixed beyond division; nor will they seperate upon the strongest test of fire. View more context for this quotation 1661–80 R. Boyle Sceptical Chymist i. 80 They do not pretend by fire alone to separate out of all compound Bodies their Hypostatical Principles. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) The Chymists make five Principles; three whereof are call'd active Principles, viz. Salt; Sulphur, or Oil; and Mercury, or Spirit... The two passive Principles, are Phlegm, and Caput Mortuum. 1740 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (rev. ed.) ix. 219 In this Manner are extracted from roses the three..principles,..spirit, oil, and salt. 1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 521/1 The operator had to remove from ordinary mercury earth or an earthy principle or quality, and water or a liquid principle, and to fix it by taking away air or a volatile principle. 1991 M. Haeffner Dict. Alchemy 115 Paracelsus retained the theory of four elements, but made the universe dependent upon three principles..of salt, sulphur and mercury, which animate the phenomenal world. < as lemmas |
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