chemist

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰew-
2. Ancient Greekχῠ́μᾰ (khŭ́mă)
3. Ancient Greekχυμείᾱ (khumeíā)
4. Arabicالْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ)
5. Medieval Latinalchēmia
6. Ancient Greekχυμείᾱ (khumeíā)influ.
7. New Latinchimia
8. Middle Frenchchymie
9. Frenchchimie
10. Frenchchimiste
11. English todaychemist

First attested 1562, borrowed from French chimiste, from Medieval Latin chimista, from earlier alchimista (literally “alchemist”), from Arabic الْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ), with article اَلْ (al-) + Ancient Greek χυμεία (khumeía, “art of alloying metals”), from χύμα (khúma, “fluid”), from χυμός (khumós, “juice”), from χέω (khéō, “to pour”). The pronunciation with initial /k/ is based on the Graeco-Latin etymology rather than on the French word, where the pronunciation with /ʃ/ is based on native French orthography. As a synonym for pharmacy, a metonymous use of the proprietor to stand for their shop.

Words from the same roots