From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Hermetic \Her*met"ic\, Hermetical \Her*met"ic*al\, a. [F.
herm['e]tique. See Note under {Hermes}, 1.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or taught by, Hermes Trismegistus; as,
hermetic philosophy. Hence: Alchemical; chemic. "Delusions
of the hermetic art." --Burke.
[1913 Webster]
The alchemists, as the people were called who tried
to make gold, considered themselves followers of
Hermes, and often called themselves Hermetic
philosophers. --A. B.
Buckley.
[1913 Webster]
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, and which made much
use, as a remedy, of an alkali and an acid; as, hermetic
medicine.
[1913 Webster]
3. Made perfectly close or air-tight by fusion, so that no
gas or spirit can enter or escape; as, an hermetic seal.
See Note under {Hermetically}.
[1913 Webster]
{Hermetic art}, alchemy.
{Hermetic books}.
(a) Books of the Egyptians, which treat of astrology.
(b) Books which treat of universal principles, of the
nature and orders of celestial beings, of medicine,
and other topics.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
hermetic
adj 1: completely sealed; completely airtight
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