mercurial
Use Mercurial in a sentence
i adjective
1.
changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic: a mercurial nature.
2.
animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.
3.
pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury.
4.
( initial capital letter ) of or pertaining to the god Mercury.
5.
( initial capital letter ) of or pertaining to the planet Mercury.
noun
6.
Pharmacology. a preparation of mercury used as a drug.
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Mercurial
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is astray. Does it mean:
| craving or consuming large quantities of food; exceedingly eager or avid |
| adj. adv Out of the right way; off the correct or known road, path, or route: ????. Ex: I was led astray in Washington, D.C when given wrong directions. |
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin mercuriālis of, pertaining to the god or planet Mercury. See mercury, -al1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin mercuriālis of, pertaining to the god or planet Mercury. See mercury, -al1
Related forms
mer·cu·ri·al·ly, adverb
mer·cu·ri·al·ness, mer·cu·ri·al·i·ty, noun
un·mer·cur·i·al, adjective
un·mer·cur·i·al·ly, adverb
un·mer·cur·i·al·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. inconstant, indecisive. 2. spirited.
1. inconstant, indecisive. 2. spirited.
Antonyms
1. constant, steady. 2. phlegmatic.
1. constant, steady. 2. phlegmatic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To mercurial
Collins
World English Dictionary
mercurial (mɜːˈkjʊərɪəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | of, like, containing, or relating to mercury |
| 2. | volatile; lively: a mercurial temperament |
| 3. | (sometimes capital) of, like, or relating to the god or the planet Mercury |
| —n | |
| 4. | med any salt of mercury for use as a medicine |
| [C14: from Latin mercuriālis] | |
| mer'curially | |
| —adv | |
| mer'curialness | |
| —n | |
| mercuri'ality | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
mercurial
late 14c., "pertaining to the planet Mercury" (see Mercury). Meaning "sprightly, volatile, quick" (1590s) is from supposed qualities of those born under the planet Mercury, probably partially by association with quicksilver.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
mercurial mer·cu·ri·al (mər-ky&oobreve;r'ē-əl)
adj.
Containing or caused by the action of the element mercury. n.
A pharmacological or chemical preparation containing mercury.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Together, the steady dandelions and the mercurial orchids offer an adaptive flexibility that neither can provide alone.
Easier, given my mercurial personality, just to leave the door shut.
The violence here is mercurial and episodic.
And his mercurial personality has been an irritant to teammates and coaches.
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