alembication

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin alembicatio, from Latin alembīcum.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

alembication (countable and uncountable, plural alembications) (literary, rare)

1. The act of making something more refined or pure; distillation.
2. Excessively refined or pretentious language.

Related terms

• alembic
• alembicated

 

References

• “alembication”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “alembication, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.