English Explanatory Dictionary

quicksilver

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The metal mercury.
  2. An amalgam of mercury and tin applied to the backs of mirrors; quicksilvering.
adj
  1. Unpredictable, erratic, or fickle; mercurial.
verb
  1. To overlay with quicksilver.
  2. To treat with quicksilver.

Pronunciation

kwĭk'sĭlvər /ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvɚ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-quicksilver.wav

Word forms

quicksilver quicksilvers quicksilvering quicksilvered

Etymology

From Middle English quyk silver, quyksilver, quikselver, from Old English cwicseolfor (“quicksilver”, literally “living silver”) (see Latin argentum vīvum) from its ability to move. See quick in the sense of "living". Cognate with Dutch kwikzilver, German Low German Quicksülver, German Quecksilber, Danish kviksølv, Norwegian Bokmål kvikksølv, Swedish kvicksilver. By surface analysis, quick (“living”) + silver.

Synonyms

mercury hydrargyrum

Derived words

quicksilvered quicksilver horizon quicksilvering quicksilverish quicksilver plaster quicksilver soap quicksilver water quicksilver weed quicksilvery unquicksilvered
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