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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · English Edition

Gerhard Dorn and John French

A Chymical Dictionary

An Expanded Diotimos Lexicon of Paracelsian and Alchemical Language

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A Chymical DictionaryVolans

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English Edition · Branch 188 of 740

Volans

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 188

Volans

Metals minerals and metallic preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Two names directly equated with quicksilver.

In the book. Volatile follows with a general definition of light matter carried upward.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 47; facsimile PDF page 375.

Historical Definition

Volans or Vnquasi is quicksilver.

Meaning

The local definition identifies the named material. It does not use Volans merely as an adjective for every upward-moving substance.

Use in the Book

Volatile follows with a general definition of light matter carried upward. The similarity is useful for comparison, but the compiler assigns a specific material to Volans and a broader property to Volatile.

Places to Read

Sibar. A historical name for quicksilver.

Volatile. A general upward-moving or upward-carried condition of light matter.

Zaidar. A direct mercury synonym.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 47; facsimile PDF page 375 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Volans; 1650 facsimile PDF p. 375; compare Sibar, Volatile, Zaidar

See also. Sibar; Volatile; Zaidar

188

About This Reading Edition

The complete 706 historical definitions of the 1650 English dictionary, modernised and accompanied by expanded Diotimos commentary, reading routes, 15 textual notes and complete linked indexes.

Historical Text

A Chymicall Dictionary, London 1650, English version associated with John French, based on Gerhard Dorn’s Dictionarium Theophrasti Paracelsi. The containing volume also prints Sendivogius and Paracelsus; neither neighboring work changes this dictionary’s attribution.

About This Edition

Complete 706 definition paragraphs with new introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes; Diotimos Editions, 2026.

Rights

The historical 1650 English text is in the public domain. New introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes are © 2026 Diotimos Editions and published with the site owner’s authorization.