Today's Word "mercurial"
Published in Vocabulary
mercurial \mur-KYUR-ee-uhl\ (adjective) - 1 - [Often capitalized] Of or pertaining to the god Mercury. 2 - [Often capitalized] Of or pertaining to the planet Mercury. 3 - Having the qualities of shrewdness, eloquence, or thievishness attributed to the god Mercury. 4 - Changeable in temperament or mood; temperamental; volatile. 5 - Of, pertaining to, or containing mercury. 6 - Caused by the use of mercury.
"Now, with God's help, make our queen volatile and our king fixed by immersing them in the mercurial fountain, which must be sealed tight as a tomb wherein..." -- Patrick Harpur, 'Mercurius: The Marriage of Heaven and Earth'
Mercurial comes from Latin Mercurius, "Mercury," the Roman god of commerce and messenger of the gods.
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