alembication

noun

alem·​bi·​ca·​tion

ə-ˌlem-bə-ˈkā-shən

plural -s

1

: the action of alembicating or the state of being alembicated : distillation

the alembication of a lifetime's thought and experience

—Olin Downes

2

: overrefinement, preciosity

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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