of the most ancient fathers of the Christian church, was born towards the end of the reign of Nero, probably at Smyrna; where he was educated at the expense of Calista, a noble matron distinguished by her piety and charity. He was unquestionably a disciple of St John the Evangelist, and conversed familiarly with other of the apostles. When of a proper age, Bucolus ordained him a deacon and catechist of his church; and upon his death he succeeded him in the bishopric, to which he is said to have been consecrated by St John, who also directed his Apocalypse, among others, to him, under the title of the angel of the church of Smyrna. At length the controversy about the observation of Easter beginning to grow high between the eastern and western churches, he went to Rome to discourse with those who were of the opposite party. The fee was then possessed by Anicetus, with whom he had many conferences, that were carried on in the most peaceable and amicable manner; and though neither of them could bring the other to embrace his opinion, they both retained their own sentiments without violating that charity which is the great law of their religion. Polycarp governed the church of Smyrna till he suffered martyrdom in 167. There is still extant an epistle written by St Polycarp to the Philippians.

Polychest, in pharmacy, signifies a medicine that serves for many uses, or that cures many diseases.

Polychest, a compound salt made of equal parts of sal-petre and sulphur, delagrated in a red-hot crucible.

Polydore Virgil. See Virgil.