leprosity

noun /lɛˈpɹɑsɪti/

1. The supposed impurity or impurities of various metals, understood as causing their deviation from gold.

   countable, uncountable

   The purpose of physical alchemy—as opposed to its various spiritual pursuits—was to treat the leprosity of base metals such as lead, refining and purifying them into gold.

Where it comes from

From Middle English leprosite, from Medieval Latin leprositas (“state of being leprous, leprosy”) either directly or via French leprosite, from leprōsus (“leprous”) + -itas (“-ity”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry leprosity (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← leporinelevidrome →

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