mercurial

[ mer-kyoor-ee-uhl ]
/ mərˈkyʊər i əl /

adjective

changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic: a mercurial nature.
animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.
pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury.
(initial capital letter) of or relating to the god Mercury.
(initial capital letter) of or relating to the planet Mercury.

noun

Pharmacology. a preparation of mercury used as a drug.

Origin of mercurial

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin mercuriālis of, pertaining to the god or planet Mercury. See mercury, -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM mercurial

Example sentences from the Web for mercurial

British Dictionary definitions for mercurial

mercurial
/ (mɜːˈkjʊərɪəl) /

adjective

of, like, containing, or relating to mercury
volatile; lively a mercurial temperament
(sometimes capital) of, like, or relating to the god or the planet Mercury

noun

med any salt of mercury for use as a medicine

Derived forms of mercurial

mercurially, adverb mercurialness or mercuriality, noun

Word Origin for mercurial

C14: from Latin mercuriālis

Medical definitions for mercurial

mercurial
[ mər-kyurē-əl ]

adj.

Containing or caused by the action of the element mercury.

n.

A pharmacological or chemical preparation containing mercury.