DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · English Edition

Gerhard Dorn and John French

A Chymical Dictionary

An Expanded Diotimos Lexicon of Paracelsian and Alchemical Language

Explore the Lexicon
A Chymical DictionaryCucurbita

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

English Edition · Branch 331 of 740

Cucurbita

Book Mode

A Chymical Dictionary

p. 331

Cucurbita

Operations instruments and practitioners · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A gourd-shaped vessel.

In the book. Cyphantum names a distilling vessel or the art itself; Diota a circulating vessel.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 18; facsimile PDF page 346.

Historical Definition

Cucurbita is a vessel shaped like a gourd.

Meaning

Shape supplies the definition. The entry does not specify the material from which the vessel is made, its dimensions, or the particular work performed in it. A reader can recognise the general form while taking those further details from the passage or illustration in view.

Use in the Book

Cyphantum names a distilling vessel or the art itself; Diota a circulating vessel. These terms describe equipment through different features: shape, purpose or movement. They should not be treated as interchangeable labels for every vessel used in a chymical work.

Places to Read

Cyphantum. A name that can denote equipment or the art performed with it.

Diota. A vessel identified by circulation.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 18; facsimile PDF page 346 — Facsimile

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

See also. Cyphantum; Diota

331

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.