Definition of MERCURIAL

mercurial

Plural: mercurials

Adjective Satellite

  • liable to sudden unpredictable change
    • "mercurial twists of temperament"

Adjective

  • relating to or under the (astrological) influence of the planet Mercury
    • "the Mercurial canals"
  • relating to or having characteristics (eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, thievishness) attributed to the god Mercury
    • "more than Mercurial thievishness"
  • relating to or containing or caused by mercury
    • "mercurial preparations"
    • "mercurial sore mouth"

Noun

  • 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.
  • A chemical compound containing mercury.
  • A preparation of mercury, especially as a treatment for syphilis.

Adj

  • Having a lively or volatile character; animated, changeable, quick-witted.
  • Pertaining to the astrological influence of the planet Mercury; having the characteristics of a person under such influence (see adjective sense 1).
  • Pertaining to the planet Mercury.
  • Of or pertaining to the element mercury or quicksilver; containing mercury.
  • Caused by the action of mercury or a mercury compound.
  • Pertaining to Mercury, the Roman god of, among other things, commerce, financial gain, communication, and thieves and trickery; hence (comparable), money-making; crafty.

Examples

  • "his mercurial temperament"

Origin / Etymology

Noun sense 1 (“(obsolete) plant known as mercury”) is from Middle English mercurial, from Anglo-Norman mercurial and Old French mercurial, or directly from their etymon, 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, whence Middle English mercurial (“under the astrological influence of the planet Mercury”).

Scrabble Score: 13

mercurial is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
mercurial is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
mercurial is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 17

mercurial is a valid Words With Friends word