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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 DictionaryLumbrici Nitri

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English Edition · Branch 420 of 740

Lumbrici Nitri

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 420

Lumbrici Nitri

Plants animals and natural materials · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Earth- or mud-dwelling worms whose name is explained by slipperiness.

In the book. Nitrum is separately equated with saltpetre.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 30; facsimile PDF page 358.

Historical Definition

Lumbrici Nitri are worms found in earth or mud, so called because of their slipperiness.

Meaning

The explanation names a place where the creatures are found and a property said to account for their designation. It does not describe them as particles of nitre or establish a mineral composition from the word Nitri.

Use in the Book

Nitrum is separately equated with saltpetre. The two entries demonstrate why an attached word cannot always be interpreted by importing the dictionary’s definition of a superficially similar independent headword.

Places to Read

Nitrum. A name for saltpetre.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 30; facsimile PDF page 358 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 358, Lumbrici Nitri

See also. Nitrum

420

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.