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Adjective

mercurial (comparative more mercurial, superlative most mercurial)

1. (comparable) Having a lively or volatile character; animated, changeable, quick-witted.
   • his mercurial temperament

   Synonyms:

   fickle, unpredictable

2. (not comparable) 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.1682, Joseph Blagrave, “[The Effects of Directions.] The Sun Directed unto Promittors.”, in Obadiah Blagrave, editor, Blagrave’s Introduction to Astrology. In Three Parts. […], London: Printed by E....
3. (not comparable) Pertaining to the planet Mercury.
4. (not comparable) 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, [...]1617, John Woodall, “Of the Small Siringe”, in The Svrgions Mate, or A Treatise Discouering Faithfully and Plainely the due Contents of the Svrgions Chest, the Uses of the Instruments, the Vertues...
5. (not comparable) 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...1712, J. White, “Farther Indications of Right Blood-letting in Fevers, […]”, in De Recta Sanguinis Missione: Or, New and Exact Observations of Fevers. […], London: Printed by D[aniel] Brown[e] […]...
6. (Roman, not comparable) 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

   Synonyms:

   Hermesian

See all 10 meanings of mercurial