quicksilver
[ kwik-sil-ver ]
/ ˈkwɪkˌsɪl vər /
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noun
the metallic element mercury.
verb (used with object)
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
OTHER WORDS FROM quicksilver
quick·sil·ver·y, adjectiveWords nearby quicksilver
quick on the uptake, quick response, quicksand, quickset, quick-setting, quicksilver, quickstep, Quick's test, quick study, quick-tempered, quickthorn
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for quicksilver
British Dictionary definitions for quicksilver
quicksilver
/ (ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvə) /
noun
another name for mercury (def. 1)
adjective
rapid or unpredictable in movement or changea quicksilver temper
Word Origin for quicksilver
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
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