Editing Hermeticism (section)

===Middle Ages===
A few primarily Hermetic occult orders were founded in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. In England, it grew interwoven with the Lollard-Familist traditions.{{sfn|Hill|2020|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KejEDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA75 75]}}

====Etymology====
The term 'Hermetic' derives from ''hermeticus'', a [[Latin]] adjective that first emerged in the [[medieval period]], derived from the name of the Greek god [[Hermes]], to describe the [[Western esotericism|esoteric]] writings and practices associated with [[Hermes Trismegistus]]. This term became widely used in reference to the ''[[Hermetica]]'', a body of texts considered to contain secret wisdom on the nature of the divine, the cosmos, and the human soul.

In English, the word 'Hermetic' appeared in the 17th century. One of the earliest instances in English literature is found in [[John Everard (preacher)|John Everard]]'s translation of ''The Pymander of Hermes'', published in 1650.{{sfn|Westcott|2012}} The term was used in reference to "Hermetic writers" such as [[Robert Fludd]]. The synonymous term 'Hermetical' is found in Sir Thomas Browne’s ''[[Religio Medici]]'' (1643), where "Hermetical Philosophers" are mentioned, referring to scholars and alchemists who engaged in the study of the natural world through the lens of Hermetic wisdom.{{sfn|Browne|2012|loc=part 1, section 2}}

The phrase "hermetically sealed" originates from [[alchemy|alchemical]] practices and refers to an airtight sealing method used in laboratories. This term became a metaphor for the safeguarding of esoteric knowledge, representing the idea that such wisdom should be kept hidden from the uninitiated.{{sfn|Copenhaver|1992}}

Over time, the word 'Hermetic' evolved to encompass a broader range of meanings, often signifying something mysterious, [[occult]], or impenetrable. This evolution reflects the central theme of secrecy within the Hermetic tradition, which emphasizes the importance of protecting sacred knowledge from those who are not prepared to receive it.{{sfn|Ebeling|2007}}