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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 DictionaryMercurialis seva

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English Edition · Branch 258 of 740

Mercurialis seva

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 258

Mercurialis seva

Salts solvents and liquid preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A mercurial name directly equated with alum water.

In the book. The neighbouring Mercurius compounds likewise require their particular definitions: one names a precipitated extraction, another a crystalline appearance, another a first being.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 33; facsimile PDF page 361.

Historical Definition

Mercurialis seva is alum water.

Meaning

The complete expression receives its own material equivalent. A reader should not discard alum water and substitute ordinary mercury merely because the headword is mercurial in form. The definition does not specify a preparation or kind of alum.

Use in the Book

The neighbouring Mercurius compounds likewise require their particular definitions: one names a precipitated extraction, another a crystalline appearance, another a first being. Their shared vocabulary is not a substitute for those differences.

Places to Read

Mercurius Crystallinus. A repeatedly sublimed mercurial preparation characterised by crystal-like clarity.

Mercurius metallorum præcipitatus. A preparation specified by metallic extraction followed by precipitation.

Mercurius regeneratus. Regenerated mercury defined through its first being.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 33; facsimile PDF page 361 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 361, Mercurialis seva

See also. Mercurius Crystallinus; Mercurius metallorum præcipitatus; Mercurius regeneratus

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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.