From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordA name used for artificial people and, sometimes, underground spirits.
- In the bookSylphes and Vmbragines are referred to pygmies.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 38; facsimile PDF page 366.
Historical definition
Pygmeæ are called artificial people, and sometimes subterranean spirits.
Meaning
The definition records two ranges, with sometimes qualifying the second. Artificial people and subterranean spirits should therefore both remain accessible without being forced into a single description.
Use in the book
Sylphes and Vmbragines are referred to pygmies. Those short cross-references can lead to this fuller entry, which gives the range missing from an isolated English equivalent. Homunculus, elsewhere in the dictionary, also concerns artificial humanity and receives its own qualifications.
Places to read
- PygmeæRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- SylphesA spirit name locally equated with pygmies.
- VmbraginesAnother name referred to pygmies.
- HomunculusAn artificial human being, with an additional image sense.
In this edition
The wording is presented as historical classification. The article does not claim that artificial people were actually produced, nor does it assume one modern folklore scheme governs every named spirit.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 38; facsimile PDF page 366 — Facsimile