Mercury

proper noun

1. 1

   The first planet in the Solar system with the closest orbit to the Sun, named after the god; represented by ☿.

   Thou, first of the children of men, art come to Mercury, where thou and I will journey up and down for a season to show thee the lands and oceans, the forests, plains, and ancient mountains, cities and palaces of this world, Mercury, and the doings of them that dwell therein.

2. 2

   The Roman god associated with speed, sometimes used as a messenger, wearing winged sandals; the Roman counterpart of the Greek god Hermes.

3. 3

   Variant of Mercury DrugEllipsis of Mercury Drug.

noun

1. 1

   obsoleteQuicksilver, mercury. (No longer capitalized, as the name of the metal is no longer recognized as that of the planet.)

2. 2

   archaicA carrier of tidings. A newsboy, a messenger.

3. 3

   archaicA carrier of tidings. A footman.

   Enter Mr. Tulkinghorn, followed by Mercuries with lamps and candles.

4. 4

   archaicA carrier of tidings. Someone who carries messages between lovers; a go-between.

   His Mercury having made his observations, reported, that there was no body in the coach but Mrs. Hornbeck and an elderly woman, who had all the air of a duenna, and that the servant was not the same footman who had attended them in France.

5. 5

   archaicA carrier of tidings. A newspaper.

   No allusion to it is to be found in the monthly Mercuries.

Forms

plural

Mercuries