Mercurial
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mercurial¹
- /məːˈkjʊə.ɹɪ.əl/ UK
- /mɝˈkjʊ.ɹi.əl/ US
- /-ˈkjɔ-/ US
Where it comes from
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”).
noun mercurials · mercuriall
- Any of the plants known as mercury, especially the annual mercury or French mercury (Mercurialis annua).
- A person born under the influence of the planet Mercury; hence, a person having an eloquent, quickwitted, furtive, or volatile character. As for [Lambert] Simnell, there was not much in him, more then that hee was a handſome Boy, and did not ſhame his Robes. But this Youth (of whom wee are now to ſpeake) was ſuch a Mercuriall, as the like hath ſeldome beene knowne; and could make his owne part, if at any time hee chanced to bee out.
- A chemical compound containing mercury.
- A preparation of mercury, especially as a treatment for syphilis. She had paſſed through the milder Remedies frequently without ſucceſs: upon which account I deſigned Mercurialls; and beginning with Venæſection, afterwards purged her with decoct. epithymi, as it is preſcribed in the method of Cure. [...] After I had thus evacuated the Plethora, and diſpoſed her bo
adjective more mercurial · most mercurial · mercuriall · Mercurial
- Having a lively or volatile character; animated, changeable, quick-witted. his mercurial temperament
- 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.
- Pertaining to the planet Mercury.
- 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, [...]
- Caused by the action of mercury or a mercury compound. I ſaw in the Year 1709. a notable inſtance, where a Phyſician order'd the Patient to be Bled five times in a Mercurial Salivation in a Caſe not Venereal; when he did ſpit at the rate of ℔ iv. per diem, and it was at the height, and yet notwithſtanding it did continue for all this, and the Patient eſ
- 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
Mercurial²
adjective more Mercurial · most Mercurial
- Alternative letter-case form of mercurial.mercurial He firſt ſubſiſts in Jupiter, the artificer of the world; next, among the ſupermundane gods; in the third place, among the liberated gods; fourthly, in the planet Mercury; fifthly, in the Mercurial order of demons; […] Likewiſe in this city a certain man once flouriſhed, full of the Mercurial power,
