mercurial
1
9.4
- adjective
- /mɜrˈkjʊəriəl/
- Jargon
:
regido por Mercurio
- Even when their mystical unity is not the focus of ritualized activity, twins cannot ever be totally conceived apart from the mercurial attributes and magical powers that characterize them.
Examples
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Well, the gentleman has been detained by the histrionics of his mercurial star.
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We climb, head north, and suddenly see the city I love, that grand and glorious mercurial megalopolis that always made my heart beat faster.
Fiction book (2001) -
When we recognize that much of good writing comes not from some mercurial muse, but rather from more tangible things—drafts, deadlines, discipline—we gain a feeling of control.
Academic text (2009) -
Astrologers believe that those born under the influence of the planet Mercury have a mercurial personality, often shifting between excitement and anxiety.
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The artist was known for his mercurial temperament, producing brilliant work one moment and struggling to create the next.
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Many believe that the phases of the moon can have a mercurial effect on people, influencing their emotions and decisions.
Compounds
- Archaic
An ointment with mercury used long ago to treat skin problems like lice and syphilis
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Mercurial comes from Mercury, the Roman messenger god and the small, fast planet, who was known for being quick and clever, so in astrology a 'mercurial' influence means quick communication and change.