To extract or separate (a substance) by means of a solvent; to leach or dissolve out using a liquid.
From 'elixir' + 'lixivium' (a chemical solution), influenced by '-ate' (verb suffix). The term blends concepts of alchemical essence extraction with the chemistry of dissolving substances in solvents.
This wonderfully obscure word shows how alchemists and early chemists tried to extract the 'essential spirit' of things—what they called 'elixiviation' is basically what modern chemists do with chromatography and extraction techniques.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.