Contextualizebeta

mercurial

noun
/məːˈkjʊə.ɹɪ.əl/UK/mɝˈkjʊ.ɹi.əl/US

Etymology

Noun sense 1 (“(obsolete) plant known as mercury”) is from Middle English mercurial (“a plant, probably the goosefoot (Chenopodium); (possibly) dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis)”), from Anglo-Norman mercurial, Old French mercurial, or directly from their etymon Latin mercuriālis (“a plant, probably annual mercury (Mercurialis annua)”), short for herba mercuriālis (“(probably) annual mercury”, literally “herb or plant of the god Mercury”). Mercuriālis (“pertaining to the Roman god Mercury”, adjective) is derived from Mercurius (“the Roman god Mercury”) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns). Later adjective and noun uses may have been directly derived from Latin mercuriālis (adjective), whence Middle English mercurial (“under the astrological influence of the planet Mercury”).

  1. derived from mercuriālis
  2. derived from mercuriālis — “a plant, probably annual mercury (Mercurialis annua)”
  3. derived from mercurial
  4. derived from mercurial
  5. inherited from mercurial — “a plant, probably the goosefoot (Chenopodium); (possibly) dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis)”

Definitions

  1. Any of the plants known as mercury, especially the annual mercury or French mercury…

    Any of the plants known as mercury, especially the annual mercury or French mercury (Mercurialis annua).

  2. A person born under the influence of the planet Mercury

    A person born under the influence of the planet Mercury; hence, a person having an eloquent, quickwitted, furtive, or volatile character.

  3. A chemical compound containing mercury.

  4. ›+ 8 more definitions

    1. A preparation of mercury, especially as a treatment for syphilis.

    2. Having a lively or volatile character

      Having a lively or volatile character; animated, changeable, quick-witted.

      • his mercurial temperament
      • [Y]our Mercuriall wit hath mangonized a Gigantean fury with an humble hue.

    3. Pertaining to the astrological influence of the planet Mercury

      Pertaining to the astrological influence of the planet Mercury; having the characteristics of a person under such influence (see adjective sense 1).

      • The Sun to the Terms of Mercury. It inclineth the native to be Mercurial, given to ſtudy Arts and Sciences, and to delight in reading, and to follow his Calling with chearfulneſs.

    4. Pertaining to the planet Mercury.

    5. Of or pertaining to the element mercury or quicksilver

      Of or pertaining to the element mercury or quicksilver; containing mercury.

      • Beware alſo of Mercuriall lotions, I meane any which haue Mercurie Sublimate Precipitat or otherwiſe prepared in them, for though they haue good qualities, yet they are vpon my knowledge and experience dangerous, [...]

    6. Caused by the action of mercury or a mercury compound.

    7. Pertaining to Mercury, the Roman god of, among other things, commerce, financial gain,…

      Pertaining to Mercury, the Roman god of, among other things, commerce, financial gain, communication, and thieves and trickery; hence (comparable), money-making; crafty.

      • Near-synonym: Hermesian
      • I know the ſhape of's Legge: this is his Hand: / His Foote Mercuriall: his martiall Thigh / The brawnes of Hercules: but his Iouiall face— / Murther in heaven?

    8. Alternative letter-case form of mercurial.

      • In addition, the magnetometer on MESSENGER will characterize Mercury’s magnetic field in detail from orbit over four Mercurial years.

The neighborhood

Derived

intermercurial, intramercurial, mercurial eczema, mercurial finger, mercurial glossitis, mercurialisation, mercurialization, mercurialise, mercurialize, mercurialism, mercurialist, mercuriality, mercurially, mercurialness, mercurial ointment, mercurial phosphorus, mercurial pneumatic trough, mercurial rash, mercurial trough, nonmercurial, organomercurial, phenylmercurial, unmercurial

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for mercurial. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA