mercury
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mercury¹
- /ˈmɜːkjʊ.ɹi/ UK
- /ˈmɝ.kjə.ɹi/ US
- /ˈmɝ.kɹi/ US
Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)kjəɹi, -ɜː(ɹ)kjʊɹi, -ɜː(ɹ)kəɹi, -ɜː(ɹ)kɹi
Where it comes from
The noun is derived from Middle English mercurie (“metallic chemical element, quicksilver; a plant, probably goosefoot (genus Chenopodium); (possibly) dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis); etc.”), borrowed from Late Latin mercurius (“metallic chemical element, quicksilver”), Latin Mercurius (“Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, communication, etc.; the planet Mercury; etc.”), possibly from merc-, a stem of merx (“goods, wares; merchandise”); further etymology uncertain, possibly:
* from Etruscan; or
* from Proto-Indo-European *merǵ- (“to divide”), or *merkʷ- (“to grasp; to take”).
The suffix -urius is also thought to be from Etruscan.
Noun sense 1 (“metallic chemical element”) is from the association in medieval alchemy of the seven known metals—gold, silver, quicksilver, copper, iron, tin, and lead—with the Sun, the Moon, and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. An analogy was probably also drawn between the element being liquid at room temperature, and the Roman god Mercury’s attribute of swiftness.
Noun sense 2 (“senses relating to plants”) is derived from mercurial (“(obsolete) any of the plants now known as mercury”, noun), from Middle English mercurial (“a plant, probably goosefoot (genus Chenopodium); (possibly) dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis)”, noun) 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”) (see above) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns).
Noun sense 2.2.2.1 (“Blitum bonus-henricus”) is from the fact that this plant was often confused with annual mercury (noun sense 2.1).
The verb is derived from the noun.
noun mercuries · mercurie
-
A silvery-coloured, metallic chemical element with the atomic number 80; it is liquid at room temperature, and toxic.
When therfore they perceaue a ſufficient quantitie of golde thus remaynynge on the tables, they gather it with diligence and put it in a tray or great ſhallowe dyſſhe of wod […] they beate or mixte (or amalgame it as they caule it) with Mercurie or quickſyluer, […]
Similar: mul:Hg, mul:☿, azoth, hydrargyrum, quicksilver
- Preceded by the: mercury (noun sense 1) as used in the column of a barometer or thermometer, its fall or rise thus indicating the decrease or increase of ambient pressure or temperature. The mercury there has averaged 37.6°C, 2.3°C above the February norm.
- A preparation containing mercury (noun sense 1), especially calomel (mercurous chloride) or corrosive sublimate (mercuric chloride), formerly used as a medicine to treat syphilis, etc. [O]ur Cures vvere rendered tedious and unſucceſsful, […] vvhilſt their Bodies vvere purged vvith Catharticks vvithout Mercury. […] They are generally ſtrong if the party can bear them, viz. ſome Preparations of Mercury, as Turbish mineral. &c. or, Antimonial, as Crocus Metallor, in ſtronger Bodies;
- One of the elemental principles formerly thought to be present in all metals.
- Liveliness, volatility. Religion thou haſt none: thy Mercury / Has paſs'd though every Sect, or theirs through Thee.
-
An annual plant, now generally called annual mercury (Mercurialis annua), chiefly native to central and southern Europe which was formerly grown for its medicinal properties; French mercury, herb mercury.
The herbe which is cõmunely [communely, i.e., commonly] called in engliſhe mercury hath nothyng to do wyth mercurialis, whereof I ſpake nowe. Let the Poticaries vſe thys mercury and let the commune mercury alone.
Similar: mercurial
- Any of several plants of the genus Mercurialis; specifically (obsolete), dog's mercury or wild mercury (Mercurialis perennis). Phyllon […] may be Engliſhed Barons Mercury or Phyllon, or Boyes Mercury or Phyllõ [Phyllon]. And the female is called […] in Engliſh Gyrles Phyllon or Mercury, Daughters Phyllon, or Mayden Mercury.
- Allgood or Good King Henry (Blitum bonus-henricus), a species of goosefoot native to central and southern Europe formerly cultivated as a vegetable but now generally regarded as a weed; English mercury, false mercury (obsolete). This herbe is called […] in Engliſh, Good Henry, and Algood: of ſome it is taken for Mercurie.
- Poison ivy or poison oak (genus Toxicodendron, especially the eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) or Atlantic poison oak (Toxicodendron pubescens)).
verb mercuries · mercurying · mercuried
- To apply or coat (something) with mercury (noun sense 1) or a preparation containing mercury. In proceeding to elucidate my process, I will divide it into six parts, the first three of which will be confined to plate cleaning; the fourth to coating with chemicals; the fifth to mercurying and chemicals, and the sixth to finishing with general remarks.
- to apply to (the face) a preparation of mercury to beautify it […] I knovv, you ha' not a finger, but is as long as my quiuer (couſin Mercvrie) vvhen you pleaſe to extend it. […] Alas, your palmes (Ivpiter knovves) they are as tender as the foot of a foundred nagge, or a ladies face nevv mercuried, the'ile [they'll] touch nothing.
- To administer to (someone) a medicine containing mercury. As for bloodletting, their prime cooler, it is inflammatory; and they know it (parrot-wise), for the thumping heart, and bounding pulse, of pashints blid [bled] by butchers in black, and bullocks blid by butchers in blue, prove it; and they have recorded this in all their books; yet stabbed, and bit
Mercury²
- /ˈmɜː.(ɹ)kjʊ.ɹi/ UK
- /ˈmɝ.kjə.ɹi/ US
- /ˈmɝ.k(ə)ɹ.i/ US
Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)kjəɹi, -ɜː(ɹ)kjʊɹi, -ɜː(ɹ)kəɹi, -ɜː(ɹ)kɹi
Where it comes from
Inherited from Middle English Mercurie, from Latin Mercurius.
proper noun
- The first planet in the Solar system with the closest orbit to the Sun, named after the god; represented by ☿. Thou, first of the children of men, art come to Mercury, where thou and I will journey up and down for a season to show thee the lands and oceans, the forests, plains, and ancient mountains, cities and palaces of this world, Mercury, and the doings of them that dwell therein.
- The Roman god associated with speed, sometimes used as a messenger, wearing winged sandals; the Roman counterpart of the Greek god Hermes.
-
Ellipsis of Mercury Drug
Similar: ☿
noun Mercuries
- Quicksilver, mercury. (No longer capitalized, as the name of the metal is no longer recognized as that of the planet.)
- A newsboy, a messenger.
- A footman. Enter Mr. Tulkinghorn, followed by Mercuries with lamps and candles.
- Someone who carries messages between lovers; a go-between. His Mercury having made his observations, reported, that there was no body in the coach but Mrs. Hornbeck and an elderly woman, who had all the air of a duenna, and that the servant was not the same footman who had attended them in France.
- A newspaper. No allusion to it is to be found in the monthly Mercuries.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: hg, quicksilver, bichloride, methylmercury, mercuric, silver, metal, temperature, fish, substance, sophic, ammoniated, melina, mercure, hydrargyrum, azogue
Translations
Every language
noun silvery-coloured, metallic chemical element with the atomic number 80
| Español | mercurio, azogue, hidrargirio |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 수은 sueun |
| 日本語 | 水銀 suigin |
| 中文 | 汞 gǒng, 水銀 /水银 shuǐyín |
| हिन्दी | पारा pārā, पारद pārad |
| Kiswahili | zebaki |
| Português | mercúrio, azougue |
| Français | mercure, vif-argent |
| Deutsch | Quecksilber |
| Italiano | mercurio |
| Ελληνικά | υδράργυρος ydrárgyros |
| Română | mercur, hidrargir, argint viu |
| Русский | ртуть rtutʹ, гидра́ргирум gidrárgirum, мерку́рий merkúrij |
| Tiếng Việt | thuỷ ngân |
| العربية | زِئْبَق ziʔbaq, زَاؤُوق zāʔūq |
| עברית | כַּסְפִּית kaspit |
noun mercury as used in the column of a barometer or thermometer
| 日本語 | 気温 kion |
|---|---|
| Français | le mercure |
noun any of several plants of the genus Mercurialis
| Español | mercurial, malcoraje |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Bingelkraut |
| Italiano | mercorella |
| Русский | проле́сник prolésnik |
| العربية | حُلْبُوب ḥulbūb |
name planet
| Español | Mercurio |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 수성 Suseong, 진성 Jinseong |
| 日本語 | 水星 Suisei, マーキュリー Mākyurī |
| 中文 | 水星 Shuǐxīng, 辰星 Chénxīng |
| हिन्दी | बुध budh |
| Kiswahili | Utaridi, Zebaki |
| Português | Mercúrio |
| Français | Mercure |
| Deutsch | Merkur |
| Italiano | Mercurio |
| Ελληνικά | Ερμής Ermís |
| Română | Mercur |
| Русский | Мерку́рий Merkúrij |
| Tiếng Việt | Sao Thủy |
| العربية | عُطَارِد ʕuṭārid |
| עברית | חַמָּה khamá |
name Roman god
| Español | Mercurio |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 메르쿠리우스 Mereukuriuseu |
| 日本語 | メルクリウス Merukuriusu, マーキュリー Mākyurī |
| 中文 | 墨丘利 Mòqiūlì |
| हिन्दी | मरक्युरी marakyurī |
| Kiswahili | Merkyuri |
| Português | Mercúrio |
| Français | Mercure |
| Deutsch | Merkur |
| Italiano | Mercurio |
| Ελληνικά | Ερμής Ermís, Μερκούριους Merkoúrious |
| Română | Mercur |
| Русский | Мерку́рий Merkúrij |
| Tiếng Việt | Méc-cua, Mẹt-cu-rơ |
| العربية | مِيرْكُورِي mīrkūrī |
| עברית | מֶרְקוּרְיוּס merkúrius |
Talk about this word "mercury." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/mercury. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. mercury. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/mercury "mercury." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/mercury.Cite this
@misc{mercury_2026,
title = {mercury},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/mercury},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
