DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · English Edition

Gerhard Dorn and John French

A Chymical Dictionary

An Expanded Diotimos Lexicon of Paracelsian and Alchemical Language

Explore the Lexicon
A Chymical DictionaryCallena

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

English Edition · Branch 226 of 740

Callena

Book Mode

A Chymical Dictionary

p. 226

Callena

Salts solvents and liquid preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. An unspecified variety within the saltpetre family.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 13; facsimile PDF page 341.

Historical Definition

Callena is a kind of saltpetre.

Meaning

The expression “a kind” gives a class but no distinguishing properties. The entry therefore directs the reader toward saltpetre vocabulary without determining a source or a prepared form. A passage’s description must supply the difference that makes its Callena a particular kind.

Nitrum and Sal petre provide related entries. Their connection helps readers navigate historical names, but it should not become a claim that every named saltpetre in every text was a chemically standardized material.

Places to Read

Nitrum. A name for saltpetre.

Sal petre. A salt described through cold air and growth on stone.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 13; facsimile PDF page 341 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Callena ; compare Nitrum, Sal petre

See also. Nitrum; Sal petre

226

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.