alembdar (alemdar)

[Turk. ' alemdar, Pers. ambiq ), a still, a cup, later the cup of a still; ill; cf. Ionic Gr. άμβη = Gr. άμβων, foot άμβων, foot of a goblet.] 1. A ve el formerly rmerly used Alembic. in chemistry for distillation, and usually made of gla or copper. The bottom part, containing the liquor to be distilled, was called the matra or cucurbit; the upper part, which received and condensed the volatile products, was called the head capital the beach was fitted to the neck of receiver. alone was more properly the alembic. It is now superseded by the retort and worm-still. Hence-2. Anything which works a change or transformation: as, the alembic of sorrow. Thus is Art, a nature pa ed through the alembic of man. Emerson, Misc., p. 27. alembic (a-lem'bik), v. t.; pret. and pp. alem bicked, ppr. alembic king. [ alembic I have occasioned great speculation, and diverted my self with the important mysteries that have been alem bicked out of a trifle. Walpole, Letters, I. 208.