Spirits

Inflammable liquors obtained by distillation. This is connected with the ancient notion of bottle-imps (q.v.), whence these liquors were largely used in the black arts.

Spirits. There are four spirits and seven bodies in alchemy. The spirits are quicksilver, orpiment, sal-ammoniae, and brimstone. (See Seven Bodies.)

“The first spirit quyksilver called is:

The secound orpiment: the third I wis

Sal armoniʹac; and the ferth bremstoon.”

Chaucer: Prof. of the Chanounes Yemanes Tale.

Spirits. There were formerly said to be three in animal bodies:—

(1) The animal spirits, seated in the brain; they perform through the nerves all the actions of sense and motion.

(2) The vital spirits, seated in the heart, on which depend the motion of the blood and animal heat.

(3) The natural spirits, seated in the liver, on which depend the temper and “spirit of mind.”

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.