quicksilver
[kwik-sil-ver]
- the metallic element mercury.
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- to amalgamate (metal) with mercury.
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Origin of quicksilver
before 1000; Middle English qwyksilver, Old English cwicseolfor (translation Latin argentum vīvum) literally, living silver
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for quicksilver
Contemporary Examples
Crystal is a onetime member of the Avengers, and in various storylines is also married to Quicksilver.
Inside Marvel’s Phase 3: How ‘The Avengers’ Cross Paths with Black Panther and the New SuperheroesMarlow Stern
October 30, 2014
The end credit scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier introduces the new Avengers the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who portrayed the eponymous character in Kick-Ass, will play her brother, Quicksilver.
Quicksilver is capable of moving and thinking at incredible speeds, and eventually traveling through time.
The Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, or Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, first appeared as X-Men villains in 1964.
Historical Examples
I have more names than one; but the name of Quicksilver suits me as well as any other.
The Gorgon's HeadNathaniel Hawthorne
Quicksilver looked at it with a smile, and nodded his approbation.
The Gorgon's HeadNathaniel Hawthorne
"I told you she would be the first to discover them," said Quicksilver to Perseus.
The Gorgon's HeadNathaniel Hawthorne
"And that would be a great pity," said Quicksilver, with his mischievous smile.
The Gorgon's HeadNathaniel Hawthorne
"They are three very strange old ladies," said Quicksilver, laughing.
The Gorgon's HeadNathaniel Hawthorne
quicksilver
- another name for mercury (def. 1)
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- rapid or unpredictable in movement or changea quicksilver temper
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Word Origin
Old English, from cwicu alive (see quick) + seolfer silver
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for quicksilver
n.
Old English cwicseolfor, literally "living silver," translating Latin argentum vivum (cf. Italian argento vivo), literally "living silver;" so called from its liquid mobility. See quick (adj.) + silver (n.). Cf. Dutch kwikzilver, Old High German quecsilbar, German quecksilber, French vif-argent, Italian argenta viva.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper