A Chymical Dictionary

Derses

Elements principles and the natural world · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A hidden earthly vapour credited with the growth of wood.

In the book. Leffas is another occult boiling vapour of the earth, associated with herbs and plants.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 19; facsimile PDF page 347.

Historical Definition

Derses is an occult vapour of the earth by reason of which every kind of wood grows and increases.

Meaning

The definition gives a proposed agency of growth. The vapour belongs to the earth, remains occult, and is said to account for the growth and increase of wood. It is not identified with a named visible liquid or a particular gas. The description is consequently more about function and origin than composition.

The breadth of “every kind” belongs to the source’s claim. It allows the term to describe a general cause of growth without making it a name for one species of tree or one product extracted from wood.

Use in the Book

Leffas is another occult boiling vapour of the earth, associated with herbs and plants. Enur connects a vapour of water with the generation of stones. Together these entries make a useful comparison of how growth and generation are explained across different classes of things. They do not establish that all such vapours are one material.

Places to Read

Enur. A hidden watery vapour credited with the generation of stones.

Leffas. An unseen earthly vapour credited with the growth of plants.

In This Edition

“Occult” is explained here by the definition’s hidden agency, without adding a ceremonial or supernatural practice that the entry does not mention.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 19; facsimile PDF page 347 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary 1650, s.v. Derses

See also. Enur; Leffas