[f. prec., which also continues in occasional use as its pa. pple., instead of amalgamated.]
1. trans. To soften or dissolve (a metal) by combination with mercury; hence, to combine mercury with another metal.
1669. Boyle, Contn. New Exp., I. 66 (R.). Amalgamating mercury with a convenient proportion of pure tin.
1706. Phillips, Amalgamate, to mix Mercury or Quicksilver with Gold, or some other noble Metal; so as to reduce it into a kind of Paste.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Amalgamation, The amalgamating mercury with copper is a very difficult process.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 806. The chloride of silver thus formed … is amalgamated with the quicksilver.
2. intr. To enter into combination with mercury.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Amalgamation, All metals, except iron and copper, spontaneously unite and amalgamate with mercury.
1804. Wollaston, in Phil. Trans., XCIV. 424. On the surface of mercury a metallic film was precipitated, but did not appear to amalgamate.
3. By extension, To mix any substances so as to form a uniform compound.
1821. Scott, Kenilw. (1867), 53. Wayland … mixed, pounded, and amalgamated the drugs.
4. fig. To unite together (classes, races, societies, ideas, etc.) so as to form a homogeneous or harmonious whole. (Used either of combining two elements, or one element with another.) a. trans.
1802. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), III. 489. It remains to amalgamate the comptroller and auditor into one.
1833. Coleridge, Table T., 239. [The Romans] were ordained by Providence to conquer and amalgamate the materials of Christendom.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Organ., § 5. 157. To amalgamate Merton with Corpus Christi College.
1872. Minto, Eng. Lit., I. i. 63. The four sentences of the original are amalgamated into two.
b. intr.
1797. Anti-Jacobin, No. 5. Liberty’s friends thus all learn to amalgamate.
1848. Lytton, Harold, I. ii. 12. These turbulent invaders had amalgamated amicably with the native race.
1862. Marsh, Eng. Lang., ii. 31. The Celtic words in English … have never amalgamated with it.
1866. Crump, Banking, ix. 200. Two banks of issue had amalgamated.
