alembic

[ uh-lem-bik ]

Part of Speech noun

Origin + Etymology

Middle English via Old French from medieval Latin alembicus, from Arabic al-'anbīq, from al- ‘the’ + 'anbīq ‘still’ (from Greek ambix, ambik- ‘cup, cap of a still’)

Synonyms

bottle
canister
carton
jug
kettle
package
pot
tub
vase
vessel

Definition

anything that transforms, purifies, or refines

Example

Spirits must go through an alembic as part of the distilling process.

Usage Over Time

#uncommon

Usage Over Time

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[ fuh-see-shuhs ]

joking or jesting often inappropriately

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[ pee-nuhk-uhl ]

a popular card game played by two, three, or four persons, with a 48-card deck

connoisseur

[ kon-uh-sur ]

an expert judge in matters of taste

cicerone

[ sis-uh-roh-nee ]

a guide who gives information about antiquities and places of interest to sightseers

hogwash

[ hawg-wosh ]

meaningless or insincere talk, writing, etc.; nonsense; bunk

irascible

[ ih-ras-uh-buhl ]

having or showing a tendency to be easily angered

anfractuous

[ an-frak-choo-uhs ]

characterized by windings and turnings; sinuous; circuitous

incumbent

[ in-kuhm-buhnt ]

necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility

egregious

[ ih-gree-juhs ]

extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagr