philosopher by fire

English

Etymology

A calque of Latin philosophus per ignem (“philosopher by fire”).

Noun

philosopher by fire (plural philosophers by fire)

1. (obsolete) Synonym of alchemist.
   • 1824, “Barometer”, in Supplement to the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 2, Edinburgh: Printed for A. Constable, →OCLC, page 117:

     […] alchemists, styled also philosophers by fire, […]

References

• alchemist,fire philosopher,philosopher by fire,philosopher of fire at the Google Books Ngram Viewer.