quicksilver
- 01 C2 Proficiency
n.a liquid silver metal, also called mercury, that was often used in old thermometers.
n.the chemical element mercury. Uncountable in this sense and largely replaced by 'mercury' in scientific contexts.
Simple“The broken thermometer spilled beads of quicksilver across the floor.”
In context“In the dim light of the laboratory, the quicksilver pooled in the bottom of the flask like a living, liquid mirror.”
Synonymsmercuryhydrargyrum - 02 C2 Proficiency
adj.changing very fast and often, like someone's mood or a person's fast movements.
adj.characterised by rapid and unpredictable change in mood, movement, or temperament.
Simple“The young actor was famous for his quicksilver changes of emotion on stage.”
In context“Her quicksilver wit made her a formidable debater, as she could pivot between arguments before her opponents had time to react.”
Teacher's tipLearners should use this to describe personality or movement rather than physical weather or temperature.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to cover a surface, like the back of a mirror, with a layer of mercury.
v.to treat or overlay a surface with an amalgam of mercury and tin.
Simple“The craftsman used an old method to quicksilver the glass for the mirror.”
In context“The artisan spent hours learning how to quicksilver the glass plates to achieve the specific reflective quality required for the restoration project.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb requiring a direct object.
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.