Chapter Alcade to Alehouse of A by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

1. An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry.

2. A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet. [Obs.]

Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy.
Milton.

3. Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious.

Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy.
Shak.

Alchymic
(Al*chym"ic a., Al"chy*mist) n., Alchymistic
(Al`chy*mis"tic) a., Alchymy
(Al"chy*my) n. See Alchemic, Alchemist, Alchemistic, Alchemy.

Alco
(||Al"co) n. A small South American dog, domesticated by the aborigines.

Alcoate
(Al"co*ate Al"co*hate) n. Shortened forms of Alcoholate.

Alcohol
(Al"co*hol) n. [Cf. F. alcool, formerly written alcohol, Sp. alcohol alcohol, antimony, galena, OSp. alcofol; all fr. Ar. al-kohl a powder of antimony or galena, to paint the eyebrows with. The name was afterwards applied, on account of the fineness of this powder, to highly rectified spirits, a signification unknown in Arabia. The Sp. word has both meanings. Cf. Alquifou.]

1. An impalpable powder. [Obs.]

2. The fluid essence or pure spirit obtained by distillation. [Obs.] Boyle.

3. Pure spirit of wine; pure or highly rectified spirit (called also ethyl alcohol); the spirituous or intoxicating element of fermented or distilled liquors, or more loosely a liquid containing it in considerable quantity. It is extracted by simple distillation from various vegetable juices and infusions of a saccharine nature, which have undergone vinous fermentation.

As used in the U. S. "Pharmacopœia," alcohol contains 91 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 9 per cent of water; and diluted alcohol (proof spirit) contains 45.5 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 54.5 per cent of water.

4. (Organic Chem.) A class of compounds analogous to vinic alcohol in constitution. Chemically speaking, they are hydroxides of certain organic radicals; as, the radical ethyl forms common or ethyl alcohol (C₂H₅.OH); methyl forms methyl alcohol (CH₃.OH) or wood spirit; amyl forms amyl alcohol (C₅H₁₁.OH) or fusel oil, etc.

Alcoholate
(Al"co*hol*ate) n. [Cf. F. alcolaie.] (Chem.) A crystallizable compound of a salt with alcohol, in which the latter plays a part analogous to that of water of crystallization. Graham.

Alcoholature
(Al`co*hol"a*ture) n. [Cf. F. alcoolature.] (Med.) An alcoholic tincture prepared with fresh plants. New Eng. Dict.

Alcoholic
(Al`co*hol"ic) a. [Cf. F. alcolique.] Of or pertaining to alcohol, or partaking of its qualities; derived from, or caused by, alcohol; containing alcohol; as, alcoholic mixtures; alcoholic gastritis; alcoholic odor.

Alcoholic
(Al`co*hol"ic), n.

1. A person given to the use of alcoholic liquors.

2. pl. Alcoholic liquors.

Alcoholism
(Al"co*hol*ism) n. [Cf. F. alcoolisme.] (Med.) A diseased condition of the system, brought about by the continued use of alcoholic liquors.