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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 DictionaryDiaphanum

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English Edition · Branch 686 of 740

Diaphanum

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 686

Diaphanum

Qualities powers and relations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A description of transparency.

In the book. Gemma tartarea is described through diaphanous and perspicuous tartar, while Citrinulum names a transparent salt made from calcined vitriol.

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

Historical Definition

Diaphanum is that which is transparent.

Meaning

This is a quality term, rather than the name of one material. It can describe something through which one can see. The entry adds no account of why the subject is transparent or what it is made of.

Use in the Book

Gemma tartarea is described through diaphanous and perspicuous tartar, while Citrinulum names a transparent salt made from calcined vitriol. These examples show the quality entering descriptions of different subjects. Transparency by itself does not make those subjects identical.

Places to Read

Citrinulum. A vitriol-derived salt identified through transparency and preparation.

Gemma tartarea. A stone described through the clarity and origin of its tartar.

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

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

See also. Citrinulum; Gemma tartarea

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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.