herm-, herme-

A category of popular Late Antique literature said to contain secret wisdom, and generally attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, 'Thrice-great Hermes': "Hermeticas consist of collections of several Greek texts from the second and third centuries which were survivors from other extensive works of literature and that were compiled into a Corpus Hermeticum by Italian scholars during the Renaissance."

"Additional Hermeticas existed in Syriac, Arabic, Armenian, Coptic, and other languages."

1. Made perfectly close or air-tight by fusion, so that no gas or spirit can enter or escape: "The chemist developed an hermetical seal for his chemical studies."
2. Of or pertaining to the system which explains the causes of diseases and the operations of medicine on the principles of the hermetic philosophy: "The hermetical research was used as a remedy, of an alkali, and an acid; as in, hermetical medicine."
3. Of, pertaining to, or taught by, Hermes Trismegistus: "Historical hermetical philosophy is described as being alchemical or chemical in content."

A container or space which is so tightly closed that no air can leave it or go into it: "When they went shopping, they purchased some hermetically sealed bags of food."

"A container or tube is hermetically sealed when it is closed completely so there is no passage of air or any other fluid into it."

1. Modernist poetic movement originating in Italy in the early 20th century: "Hermeticism produced within the movement were characterized by unorthodox structures, illogical sequences, and highly subjective languages.."
2. The occult sciences; especially, alchemy: "Hermetism contains ideas and beliefs that were widely held in the early Roman empire on astrology, alchemy, and magic."

Greek: Hermes (god)
Latin: Mercury (god)

Messenger of the gods, god of commerce (trade) and thieves; also, the god of science, eloquence, cleverness, travel, and thievery.

Symbols: Winged cap, winged sandals, and a caduceus (a winged staff with two serpents twined around it, said to suggest intercourse) which is incorrectly used by some to represent medicine or medical organizations.

1. Someone who has external genitalia of one sex and internal sex organs of the other sex: "A pseudohermaphrodite is not a true hermaphrodite because there is no ambiguity in the sex of the external genitalia and hence no question about the gender of the individual at birth."
2. Having internal reproductive organs of one sex and external sexual characteristics of the other gender.

A reference to those who have internal reproductive organs of one gender and external sexual characteristics of the other gender: "Pseudohermaphroditic conditions are not those of a true hermaphrodite because there is no problem in recognizing the sex of the external genitalia and so there is no doubt about the person's gender at birth."

A condition in which an individual has the internal reproductive organs of one gender but the external genitalia of the other: "Female pseudohermaphroditism is a form in which the affected individual is a genetic and gonadal female with partial masculinization."

"Male pseudohermaphroditism is a form in which the affected individual is a genetic and gonadal male; however, with incomplete masculinization."

A reference to a container which is not sealed and so air and other fluids can enter it: "A customer will find that there are some unhermetic bags or containers in food stores."