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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 DictionaryKali

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English Edition · Branch 246 of 740

Kali

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 246

Kali

Salts solvents and liquid preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Ashes identified through their use in soap-making.

In the book. Laterium describes the strong lyes used by soap-boilers and then connects them with a surgical caustic.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 28; facsimile PDF page 356.

Historical Definition

Kali is soap ashes.

Meaning

The definition points to a material associated with a craft. Ashes are named through their employment by soap-makers, without a specification of the plant, fuel or process that produced them. It is a historical material category rather than a statement of one chemical composition.

Use in the Book

Laterium describes the strong lyes used by soap-boilers and then connects them with a surgical caustic. Kali names ashes; Laterium names a liquid preparation in that craft setting. The relation is useful, but the two definitions should remain distinct.

Places to Read

Laterium. A soap-making lye connected with the surgical caustic Lapis infernalis.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 28; facsimile PDF page 356 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 356, Kali

See also. Laterium

246

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.