Lexic.us

Definition of Quicksilver

1. Adjective. Liable to sudden unpredictable change. "A quicksilver character, cool and willful at one moment, utterly fragile the next"

2. Noun. A heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures.

Definition of Quicksilver

1. n. The metal mercury; -- so called from its resemblance to liquid silver.

Definition of Quicksilver

1. Noun. The metal mercury. ¹

2. Noun. (colloquial) An amalgam of mercury and tin applied to the backs of mirrors, quicksilvering. ¹

3. Adjective. Unpredictable, erratic or fickle; mercurial. ¹

4. Verb. To overlay with quicksilver. ¹

5. Verb. To treat with quicksilver. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Quicksilver

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Quicksilver

1. The metal mercury; so called from its resemblance to liquid silver. Quicksilver horizon, a mercurial artificial horizon. See Horizon. Quicksilver water, a solution of mercury nitrate used in artificial silvering; quick water. Origin: Quick living + silver; so called from its fluidity; cf. G. Quecksilber, L. Argentum vivum. See Quick. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Quicksilver

quickly quickness quicknesses quicks quicksand quicksandlike quicksands quicksandy quicksave quicksaved

quicksaves quicksaving quickset quickset(a) quicksets quicksilver (current term) quicksilver(a) quicksilvered quicksilvering quicksilvers

quicksilvery quicksmart quicksort quicksorted quicksorting quicksorts quickstep quickstepped quickstepping quicksteps

Literary usage of Quicksilver

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Index of Economic Material in Documents of the States of the United States by Adelaide Rosalia Hasse (1908)
"Mines and mining—exhaustive article on production of quicksilver from ... Official rept. of production of quicksilver at New Almaden for 27 yrs. and 3 mos. ..."

2. Mineral Deposits by Waldemar Lindgren (1913)
"quicksilver DEPOSITS The Ores and Their General Occurrence.—The principal quicksilver ore is cinnabar (HgS), which contains 86.2 per cent. mercury. ..."

3. The Mining Magazine (1857)
"I know of no reason, a priori, on geological grounds, why quicksilver should not exist in these countries, and if little is known with regard to it. it is ..."

4. Transactions of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and (1915)
"(New York Meeting, February, 1915) INTRODUCTION THE present war in Europe seems to have stimulated the demand for quicksilver. In July last, the price ..."

5. Vitruvius, the Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio (1914)
"CHAPTER Vin CINNABAR AND quicksilver 1. I SHALL now proceed to explain the nature of cinnabar. It is said that it was first found in the ..."

6. The Mineral Industry by Richard Pennefather Rothwell (1906)
"quicksilver. THE quicksilver product of the United States in 1906, ... As noted in our last volume quicksilver is now marketed in flasks of 75 Ib., ..."

7. The Scientific Papers of the Honourable Henry Cavendish by Henry Cavendish (1921)
"303 X. Observations on Mr. Hutchins's Experiments for determining the Degree of Cold at which quicksilver freezes. By Henry Cavendish, Esq., FRS r< Read May ..."

8. The Mineral Industry by Richard Pennefather Rothwell (1902)
"quicksilver. THE production of quicksilver in the United States during 1901 ... The import* of quicksilver during the past five years were as follows: 1896 ..."

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