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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 DictionarySylphes

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English Edition · Branch 657 of 740

Sylphes

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 657

Sylphes

Spirits celestial influences and signs · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A spirit name locally equated with pygmies.

In the book. Vmbragines is also equated with pygmies.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 44; facsimile PDF page 372.

Historical Definition

Sylphes are pygmies.

Meaning

The present dictionary gives a direct equivalence. Its brevity does not supply a dwelling or a distribution among the elements.

Use in the Book

Vmbragines is also equated with pygmies. Sylvestres, meanwhile, is described through airy spirits and sometimes strong woodland men. The similar beginnings should not make these entries collapse into a single description.

Places to Read

Sylvestres. Names with airy-spirit and gigantic woodland senses.

Vmbragines. Another name referred to pygmies.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 44; facsimile PDF page 372 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Sylphes; 1650 facsimile PDF p. 372; compare Sylvestres, Vmbragines

See also. Sylvestres; Vmbragines

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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.