mercury

noun

1. 1

   Senses relating to the metal. A silvery-coloured, metallic chemical element with the atomic number 80; it is liquid at room temperature, and toxic.

   When therfore they perceaue a ſufficient quantitie of golde thus remaynynge on the tables, they gather it with diligence and put it in a tray or great ſhallowe dyſſhe of wod […] they beate or mixte (or amalgame it as they caule it) with Mercurie or quickſyluer, […]

   [I]f the inverted Tube of Mercury be but 25 Digits high, or ſomevvhat more, the Quick-ſilver vvill not fall but remain ſuſpended in the Tube; becauſe it cannot preſs the ſubjacent Mercury vvith ſo great a force, as does the incumbent Cylinder of the Air reaching thence to the top of the Atmoſphere: […]

   The earth is all alive and covered with papillæ. The largest pond is as sensitive to atmospheric changes as the globule of mercury in its tube.

   All at once the blood dropped out of her cheeks as the mercury drops from a broken barometer-tube, and she melted away from her seat like an image of snow; a slung-shot could not have brought her down better.

2. 2

   Senses relating to the metal. Preceded by the: mercury (noun sense 1) as used in the column of a barometer or thermometer, its fall or rise thus indicating the decrease or increase of ambient pressure or temperature.

   The mercury there has averaged 37.6°C, 2.3°C above the February norm.

   The summers are oppressively hot, and the winters very probably cold; but this fact cannot be ascertained precisely, as, for some peculiar reason, the mercury in these latitudes never shrinks, as in more northern regions, and thus the thermometer is rendered useless in winter.

   As the mercury climbed in recent days – hovering at about 42C in both Seville and Córdoba – volunteers in both cities started to assemble around swift colonies, gathering up as many of the dehydrated and undernourished chicks they could find.

   Rail temperatures are checked at Manchester Piccadilly on July 18—the first of two consecutive days in which the mercury rose above 38°C across large parts of England.

3. 3

   historicalSenses relating to the metal. A preparation containing mercury (noun sense 1), especially calomel (mercurous chloride) or corrosive sublimate (mercuric chloride), formerly used as a medicine to treat syphilis, etc.

   [O]ur Cures vvere rendered tedious and unſucceſsful, […] vvhilſt their Bodies vvere purged vvith Catharticks vvithout Mercury. […] They are generally ſtrong if the party can bear them, viz. ſome Preparations of Mercury, as Turbish mineral. &c. or, Antimonial, as Crocus Metallor, in ſtronger Bodies; but in vveaker Conſtitutions vve give ſuch as vve may.

   [A] Set of Thieves and Pickpockets, not only robb'd and cheated the poor People of their Money, but poiſoned their Bodies vvith odious and fatal preparations; ſome vvith Mercury, and ſome vvith other things as bad, perfectly remote from the Thing pretended to; and rather hurtful than ſerviceable to the Body in caſe an Infection follovved.

4. 4

   historicalSenses relating to the metal. One of the elemental principles formerly thought to be present in all metals.

5. 5

   figurativeSenses relating to the metal. Liveliness, volatility.

   Religion thou haſt none: thy Mercury / Has paſs'd though every Sect, or theirs through Thee.

   [A]s able as your ſelf and as nimble too, though I mayn't have ſo much Mercury in my Limbs; […]

   Thus, VVit has its VValks and Purlieus, out of vvhich it may not ſtray the breadth of a Hair, upon peril of being loſt. The Moderns have artfully fixed this Mercury [i.e., wit], and reduced it to the Circumſtances of Time, Place and Perſon.

   He [The Duke of Buckingham] vvas ſo full of mercury, that he could not fix long in any friendſhip, or to any deſign.

6. 6

   Senses relating to plants. An annual plant, now generally called annual mercury (Mercurialis annua), chiefly native to central and southern Europe which was formerly grown for its medicinal properties; French mercury, herb mercury.

   The herbe which is cõmunely [communely, i.e., commonly] called in engliſhe mercury hath nothyng to do wyth mercurialis, whereof I ſpake nowe. Let the Poticaries vſe thys mercury and let the commune mercury alone.

   French Mercurie is ſovven in kitchen gardens among potherbes, in vineyardes, and in moiſt ſhadovvie places, […] Mercurie is hot and drie, yet not aboue the ſecond degree: it hath a clenſing facultie, and (as Galen) vvriteth) a digeſting qualitie alſo.

   [T]ovvards the topps of the ſtalks and branches come forth at every Joynt in the Male Mercury tvvo ſmall round green heads, ſtanding together upon a ſhort footſtalk, vvhich grovving ripe are the ſeeds; not having any Flovver: […]

7. 7

   Senses relating to plants. Chiefly with a descriptive word. Any of several plants of the genus Mercurialis; specifically (obsolete), dog's mercury or wild mercury (Mercurialis perennis).

   Phyllon […] may be Engliſhed Barons Mercury or Phyllon, or Boyes Mercury or Phyllõ [Phyllon]. And the female is called […] in Engliſh Gyrles Phyllon or Mercury, Daughters Phyllon, or Mayden Mercury.

   The Decoction of the Leavs of Mercury, or the Juyce thereof in Broth, or Drunk vvith a little Sugar put to it, purgeth Chollerick and vvateriſh Humors.

8. 8

   Senses relating to plants. Chiefly with a descriptive word. Any of several plants resembling Mercurialis plants but of a different genus, or having similar medicinal or toxic qualities as annual mercury or dog's mercury. Allgood or Good King Henry (Blitum bonus-henricus), a species of goosefoot native to central and southern Europe formerly cultivated as a vegetable but now generally regarded as a weed; English mercury, false mercury (obsolete).

   This herbe is called […] in Engliſh, Good Henry, and Algood: of ſome it is taken for Mercurie.

   Engliſh Mercurie, or good Henrie. […] It is taken for a kinde of Mercurie, but vnproperly, for that it hath no participation vvith Mercurie, either in forme or qualitie, except yee vvil call euery herbe Mercurie vvhich hath povver to looſe the bellie.

9. 9

   Senses relating to plants. Chiefly with a descriptive word. Any of several plants resembling Mercurialis plants but of a different genus, or having similar medicinal or toxic qualities as annual mercury or dog's mercury. Poison ivy or poison oak (genus Toxicodendron, especially the eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) or Atlantic poison oak (Toxicodendron pubescens)).

verb

1. 1

   historicalTo apply or coat (something) with mercury (noun sense 1) or a preparation containing mercury.

   In proceeding to elucidate my process, I will divide it into six parts, the first three of which will be confined to plate cleaning; the fourth to coating with chemicals; the fifth to mercurying and chemicals, and the sixth to finishing with general remarks.

   An image is but an appearance on glass that has been mercuried. It cannot be a friend.

   [T]he room mercuried / in dusk, pigeon loose / and flying frantic against walls, mirror, chilly xylophone of hangers set ringing by its wings.

2. 2

   historicalTo apply or coat (something) with mercury (noun sense 1) or a preparation containing mercury. to apply to (the face) a preparation of mercury to beautify it

   […] I knovv, you ha' not a finger, but is as long as my quiuer (couſin Mercvrie) vvhen you pleaſe to extend it. […] Alas, your palmes (Ivpiter knovves) they are as tender as the foot of a foundred nagge, or a ladies face nevv mercuried, the'ile [they'll] touch nothing.

3. 3

   historicalTo administer to (someone) a medicine containing mercury.

   As for bloodletting, their prime cooler, it is inflammatory; and they know it (parrot-wise), for the thumping heart, and bounding pulse, of pashints blid [bled] by butchers in black, and bullocks blid by butchers in blue, prove it; and they have recorded this in all their books; yet stabbed, and bit, and starved, and mercuried, and murdered, on.

Forms

plural

mercuries

past tense

mercuried

past participle

mercuried

present participle

mercurying

third person singular

mercuries