mercurial

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Definitions (24)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (6)

  1. adjective Roman Mythology Of or relating to the god Mercury.
  2. adjective Astronomy Of or relating to the planet Mercury.
  3. adjective Having the characteristics of eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, and thievishness attributed to the god Mercury.

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Examples

  • I found when I went to Grand Rapids that the intermittent, remittent, and pernicious fevers, which prevailed in that place and in the surrounding country, were generally treated by the resident physicians with mercurial or other cathartic remedies, followed or accompanied by Quinine and brandy or fermented drinks containing Alcohol, and opiates where they were supposed to be necessary. —  Personal Experience of a Physician
  • All the most chivalric feeling of that mercurial, but generous people, was called out by the sight of her frank and smiling face. —  Queen Victoria Her Girlhood And Womanhood
  • The frivolous and the mercurial were not in Calvin's make-up. —  Little Journeys to the Homes of Great Reformers
  • Meanwhile Carl's character was forming, and he was becoming as brilliant as the mercurial life he was leading, and at the same time as irresponsible. —  The Love Affairs of Great Musicians
  • You are too mercurial - you disclose all my emotions. —  Fantastic Fables
 

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Mercurial has been looked up 544 times, favorited 13 times, listed 181 times, and commented on 7 times.

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

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Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

inconstant ·  fickle ·  excitable ·  volatile ·  changeable ·  flighty ·  impulsive ·  irresolute ·  erratic ·  vivacious ·  irascible ·  jovial
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, of the planet Mercury, from Latin mercuriālis, of the god or planet Mercury, from Mercurius, Mercury.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. = French mercuriel = Spanish Portuguese mercurial = Italian mercuriale, from Latin Mercurialis, of or pertaining to the god Mercury or to the planet Mercury, from Mercurius, Mercury: see Mercury.
 

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/mərˈkjuriəl/
by American Heritage

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