solifaction

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English

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Etymology 1

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From Sol, from the identification of gold as the planetary metal of the Sun. Compare Latin sōlificātiō, sōlificus.

Noun

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solifaction

  1. (alchemy) the production of gold
    • 2004 [c. 1653-1656], George Starkey, translated by William R. Newman, Lawrence M. Principe, Alchemical Laboratory Notebooks and Correspondence, University of Chicago Press, page 204:
      Note also that mercury is not made from regulus without the separation of copious combustible sulfur; therefore, it is fitting for solifaction and lunifaction for this sulfur to be removed.
      [original: Nota quoque, quod ex 🜵 non fit sine sequestratione 🜍is Combustibilis Copiosi, Ergo & hoc ad Solificationem & Lunificationem sequestrari convenit.]

Etymology 2

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From solid +‎ -faction.

Noun

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solifaction

  1. (chemistry) making solid or with an end result that is solid.
    Antonyms: liquefaction, gasification
    • 1979, Helping insure our energy future, Committee for Economic Development, page 63:
      While this statement has focused on synthetic liquid and gaseous fuel, a related coal conversion technology is the coal solifaction process – converting coal into synthetic solid fuel. The solifaction process is somewhat similar to the first step in coal liquefaction techniques.