Also 7–8 spagirist. [ad. mod.L. spagirista (F. spagiriste): see SPAGYRIC a.] An alchemist.
α. 1652. J. Wright, trans. Camus’ Nat. Paradox, XI. 280. The Spagirists in seeking the Union of Essences have … found out the dissolving of all naturall Bodies.
1660. J. H[arding], trans. Basil. Valent. Chariot Antim., 1. A brief admonition concerning some Præcognita, which a Spagirist … ought to be acquainted with.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey).
β. 1661. Boyle (title), The Sceptical Chymist: or Chymico-Physical Doubts & Paradoxes, Touching the Spagyrist’s Principles Commonly call’d Hypostatical.
1675. Phil. Trans., X. 516. Those Spagyrists that possess or aspire to the nobler Arcana of Gold and Mercury.
1756. Amory, J. Buncle (1825), I. 266. A man of great skill in the labours and operations of spagyrists.
So Spagyrite. rare.
1666. Boyle, Orig. Formes & Qual., 58. Other things which Spagyrites obtaine from mixt Bodies.
1697. Evelyn, Numismata, ix. 328. A troop of Spagirits.
