HOW TO PRONOUNCE
mercurial
/mɝˈkjʊ.ɹi.əl/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does mercurial mean?
noun
- 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.
adjective
- Having a lively or volatile character; animated, changeable, quick-witted.
More meanings (8)
adjective
- 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.
- Alternative letter-case form of mercurial.
noun
- (obsolete) Any of the plants known as mercury, especially the annual mercury or French mercury (Mercurialis annua).
- (historical) A preparation of mercury, especially as a treatment for syphilis.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/mɝˈkjʊ.ɹi.əl/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
A little calamine ointment, to which was added one-eighth part of mercurial ointment, was then tried, and considerable benefit immediately experienced.
In summer, on cloudy and stormy days, mercurial vapors rise more readily and quickly than in the temperature of autumn or winter.
More book examples (3)
When fortunes such as these were gained, it is no wonder that Law should have been almost worshipped by the mercurial population.
In the last chapter we saw how the ordinary mercurial barometer can be used to ascertain fairly accurately the height of mountains.
Bonet mentions death after the inunction of a mercurial ointment, and instances of distressing salivation from such medication are quite common.