'alchemy' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-kīmiyā', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'kīmiyā' meant 'philosopher's stone'.

'al-kīmiyā' transformed into the Old French word 'alquimie', and eventually became the modern English word 'alchemy' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'the process of turning base metals into gold', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination'.