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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 DictionaryPræsagium

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English Edition · Branch 644 of 740

Præsagium

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 644

Præsagium

Spirits celestial influences and signs · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A significant sign understood as pointing toward a future event.

In the book. Pyromancy specifies fire as a medium of presaging, while Sortilegium specifies spirits.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 38; facsimile PDF page 366.

Historical Definition

Præsagium is a notable sign of something to come.

Meaning

The entry defines a relation in time: a present or observed sign points toward something not yet come. Notable marks its significance, without identifying a particular medium.

Use in the Book

Pyromancy specifies fire as a medium of presaging, while Sortilegium specifies spirits. The general sign word can orient readers within those more particular accounts.

Places to Read

Pyromancy. Divination through the signs of fire.

Sortilegium. Foretelling mediated by spirits.

Turba magna. A multitude of stars and the presage associated with them.

In This Edition

The definition records the historical notion of a presage. A sign described as such within a work remains the author’s interpretation of its relation to an event.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 38; facsimile PDF page 366 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Præsagium; 1650 facsimile PDF p. 366; compare Pyromancy, Sortilegium, Turba magna, Erodinium, Essodinum

See also. Pyromancy; Sortilegium; Turba magna; Erodinium; Essodinum

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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.