From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordQuicksilver named as the mother of metals.
- In the bookMetallum currens supplies another descriptive name, and Luna compacta another qualified one.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 32; facsimile PDF page 360.
Historical definition
Mater metallorum is quicksilver.
Meaning
The maternal phrase presents quicksilver through its relation to metals. The dictionary’s immediate equivalent is nevertheless simply quicksilver; it does not explain a sequence of generation or give a test of metallic parentage in this entry.
Use in the book
Metallum currens supplies another descriptive name, and Luna compacta another qualified one. Together these entries allow a reader to recognise the named material while returning to the surrounding argument for the significance of mother, running or lunar language.
Places to read
- Mater metallorumRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- Metallum currensQuicksilver under the name running metal.
- Luna compactaA lunar compound assigned to quicksilver.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 32; facsimile PDF page 360 — Facsimile
Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 360, Mater metallorum