Definition of hermetic

The word "hermetic" refers to something that is completely sealed or airtight. Its origin can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Hermes Trismegistus, who was associated with the Egyptian god Thoth. It is said that Hermes wrote a collection of texts known as the Hermetic Corpus, which discussed ideas such as the universe as a self-contained system and the properties of matter. One of the key concepts in the Hermetic Corpus was the principle of conservation or "hermetism", which suggested that matter cannot be created or destroyed, but only altered or transformed. This idea was so closely associated with Hermes that his name became synonymous with the concept itself. As a result, items or spaces that are completely sealed, preventing any exchange of matter, became known as hermetic. The word originally appeared in the 17th century and was derived from the Greek word "hermetikos", meaning "of Hermes", and the Latin word "hermeticos", meaning "closely sealed". Today, the word "hermetic" is used in a variety of contexts, from chemistry to engineering and beyond, and continues to convey the idea of something that is shut off from the outside world.