Dictionary
hermetic
adjective her·met·ic \(ˌ)hər-ˈme-tik\
: closed tightly so that no air can go in or out
Full Definition of HERMETIC
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[from the belief that Hermes Trismegistus invented a magic seal to keep vessels airtight] a : airtight <hermetic seal> b : impervious to external influence <trapped inside the hermetic military machine — Jack Newfield> c : recluse, solitary <leads a hermetic life>
— her·met·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Variants of HERMETIC
her·met·ic also her·met·i·cal \-ti-kəl\
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Origin of HERMETIC
Medieval Latin hermeticus, from Hermet-, Hermes Trismegistus
First Known Use: 1605
Related to HERMETIC
- Antonyms
- shallow, superficial
Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms
Rhymes with HERMETIC
aesthetic, ascetic, athletic, balletic, bathetic, cometic, cosmetic, eidetic, emetic, frenetic, gametic, genetic, limnetic, magnetic, mimetic, noetic, Ossetic, paretic, pathetic, phenetic, phonetic, phyletic, poetic, prophetic, prosthetic, pyretic, splenetic, syncretic, syndetic, synthetic, tonetic, Venetic
Medical Dictionary
hermetic
adjective her·met·ic \(ˌ)hər-ˈmet-ik\
Medical Definition of HERMETIC
: being airtight or impervious to air
—her·met·i·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
Biographical Note for HERMETIC
Her·mes Tris·me·gis·tus, \ˈhər-(ˌ)mēz-ˌtris-mə-ˈjis-təs\ Greek mythological character. Hermes Trismegistus was identified by the Greeks with the Egyptian god Thoth. To him was ascribed authorship of various works on astrology, magic, alchemy, and medicine. It was also believed that he had invented a magic seal to keep vessels airtight, and from his name the adjective hermetic meaning airtight was derived.
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