alquimista

alchemist

noun ahl-kee-MEES-tah Rare

Origin: From Arabic al-kīmiyā', the medieval art of transmutation.

Usage Note

Alquimista can be masculine or feminine; the article signals gender (el/la alquimista). Historically it refers to medieval practitioners who sought to turn base metals into gold; in modern Spanish it is also used metaphorically for someone with a seemingly magical talent for transformation.

Examples

"El alquimista buscaba convertir plomo en oro."

Natural Translation

The alchemist sought to turn lead into gold.

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