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mercurial

1 8.1

Relating to the metal mercury or to mercury poisoning

adjective
/mɜrˈkjʊəriəl/

Specialized

: que contiene mercurio

These mercurial phenomena flare up and briefly outshine everything else in the sky.

Examples

It was inspired by Mercurial version control.

Blog text (22)
The rock has some beautiful riffs, some driving bass, mercurial and beautiful drums, complex keys, and a string section peppered in here and there.

Blog text (9)
The scientist carefully examined the mercurial liquid, noting its unique properties under different temperatures.
In her chemistry class, she learned that mercurial compounds can be hazardous if not handled properly.
The mercurial substance reacted instantly when exposed to air, changing from liquid to solid in seconds.

Synonyms

mercuric

vsmercurial

Specialized

1 8.8

Containing the metal mercury or made from it

is broader, applying to any relation or cause by that element

mercurous

vsmercurial

Literature

9.9

Containing mercury with one positive charge

is general, covering relation or presence of that element not only valence one

mercury-contaminated

vsmercurial

7.1

Containing mercury that can make people sick

is neutral, meaning related to or caused by that element without pollution focus

Compounds

mercurial ointment

Archaic

9.9

An ointment with mercury used long ago to treat skin problems like lice and syphilis

Surface Forms

mercurial positive

mercurialer comparative

mercurialest superlative

Morphology

mercurial = Mercury (transparent) = mercury + ial

Clearly derived from the element 'mercury' + adjectival suffix, indicating relation to the substance.

Etymology

Mercurial also relates to the metal Mercury, once called 'quicksilver' because it flows and moves so fast, so a 'mercurial' description in science means something that contains or is caused by the metal mercury.