Where does “Mercurial” come from?
Mercurial (English) comes from Middle English mercurial, from Latin Mercurialis, from Latin Mercurius, from Latin merx, from Proto-Italic *merks.
Mercurial (English): Any of the plants known as mercury, especially the annual mercury or French mercury (Mercurialis annua)
Definitions
- Any of the plants known as mercury, especially the annual mercury or French mercury (Mercurialis annua)
Ancestry of “Mercurial”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | mercurial | A plant belonging to the genus "Chenopodium"; a... |
| 2 | Latin | Mercurialis | pertaining to the Roman god Mercury |
| 3 | Latin | Mercurius | Mercury; a Roman god associated with speed and... |
| 4 | Latin | merx | merchandise, commodity; goods, wares |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | *merks | — |