hermetic
adjective
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Hermetic Has Origins in Greek Mythology
Hermetic derives from Greek via the Medieval Latin word hermeticus. When it first entered English in the early 17th century, hermetic was associated with writings attributed to Thoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom. Thoth, whom the Greeks called Hermes Trismegistus ("thrice-great Hermes"), was believed to be the author of a number of mystical, philosophical, and alchemistic works. The obscure subject matter of these works may have made them difficult to wade through, for soon English speakers were also applying hermetic to things that were beyond ordinary human comprehension. Additionally, Hermes Trismegistus was said to have invented a magic seal that could keep vessels airtight. Hermetic thus came to mean "airtight," both literally and figuratively. These days, it can also sometimes mean "solitary."
Examples of hermetic in a Sentence
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 26 June 2024
But the good news is that cans provide a hermetic seal.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 Apr. 2024
Move to any metropolitan area and the only steady co-ed fitness options tend to be gym classes, hermetic adult obstacle courses in dilapidating indoor malls, and recreational sports leagues ranging from soccer to … dodgeball.
—Lisa Kwon, Vulture, 5 Apr. 2024
Eventually, the attractions of ancient hermetic wisdom reeled in the greatest rationalist of them all: Sir Isaac Newton.
—Frederick Kaufman, Harper's Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Hermetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hermetic. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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