philosopher by fire

noun

Synonym of alchemist.

Similar
alchemist
OriginLatin philosophus per ignem →
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Meanings

nounphilosopher by fire (plural philosophers by fire)

plural philosophers by fire

  1. obsoleteSynonym of alchemist.

    […] alchemists, styled also philosophers by fire, […]

    1824, “Barometer”, in Supplement to the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 2, Edinburgh: Printed for A. Constable, →OCLC, page 117

    Synonyms: alchemist

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSynonym of alchemist.

Similar
alchemist
Also see
alchemist

Origin

  1. Latinphilosophus per ignem“philosopher by fire”
  2. Englishphilosopher by fire

A calque of Latin philosophus per ignem (“philosopher by fire”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

philosopher by fire. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/philosopher%20by%20fire

MLA

“philosopher by fire.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/philosopher%20by%20fire. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “philosopher by fire,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/philosopher%20by%20fire.

Source: philosopher by fire on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.