late 14c., "pertaining to the planet Mercury" (see Mercury). Meaning "sprightly, volatile, quick" (1590s) is from supposed qualities of those born under the planet Mercury (they also are the qualities of the god Mercury), probably also partly by association with the qualities of quicksilver. A variant in this sense was mercurious (1590s). Related: Mercurially; mercuriality.
雙語(yǔ)例句
1. Emily's mercurial temperament made her difficult to live with.
埃米莉脾氣反復(fù)無(wú)常,很難與她相處。
來(lái)自《權(quán)威詞典》
2. He is a complicated man— moody, mercurial, with a melancholy streak.