Where does “mercurial” come from?
Mercurial comes from Middle English mercurial, derived from Latin mercurialis, relating to Mercury or commerce.
mercurial (English): Any of the plants known as mercury, especially...
Definitions
- Any of the plants known as mercury, especially...
Ancestry of “mercurial”, step by step
mercurial traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English mercurial
| 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 | — |