mercurial









mercurial


adjective

  1. changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic: a mercurial nature.
  2. animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.
  3. pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury.
  4. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the god Mercury.
  5. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the planet Mercury.

noun

  1. Pharmacology. a preparation of mercury used as a drug.

adjective

  1. of, like, containing, or relating to mercury
  2. volatile; livelya mercurial temperament
  3. (sometimes capital) of, like, or relating to the god or the planet Mercury

noun

  1. med any salt of mercury for use as a medicine

adj.late 14c., “pertaining to the planet Mercury” (see Mercury). Meaning “sprightly, volatile, quick” (1590s) is from supposed qualities of those born under the planet Mercury (they also are the qualities of the god Mercury), probably also partly by association with the qualities of quicksilver. A variant in this sense was mercurious (1590s). Related: Mercurially; mercuriality. adj.

  1. Containing or caused by the action of the element mercury.

n.

  1. A pharmacological or chemical preparation containing mercury.
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