potable gold

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English

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Etymology

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From potable +‎ gold. From being something drinkable that is like gold.

  • (alchemy): from being an elixir that confers the untarnishability and eternity of gold to a person

Noun

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potable gold (uncountable)

  1. (alchemy) A theoretical substance which would confer eternal life on the drinker.
    • 2002, Philip Ball, The Elements: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, published 2004, page 60:
      This tradition found its way to the West in the notion of ‘potable gold(aurum potabile), a medicine that, if drunk, would cure all manner of ills.
  2. (historical) A preparation consisting of gold particles in oil and alcohol.

Synonyms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

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