quicksilver

1 of 2

noun

quick·​sil·​ver ˈkwik-ˌsil-vər How to pronounce quicksilver (audio)

quicksilver

2 of 2

adjective

: resembling or suggestive of quicksilver
especially : mercurial sense 3

Examples of quicksilver in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Scott earned raves for his melancholy performance and his quicksilver ability to transform himself into a child of different ages purely through his acting choices. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024 While Ringwald had a different appeal from Monroe, her insouciant energy and quicksilver ability to shift her moods got closer to Capote’s character than did Hepburn’s reinvention in the 1961 film. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 25 Jan. 2024 Her quicksilver performance is the engine that propels the action. Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2023 Like verbal quicksilver, slang cannot be co-opted or calculated. Caleb Madison, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2023 The film is a quicksilver portrait of the three characters as layers of denial and deception, both among the trio and within each individual, are gradually, chillingly exposed. Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2023 Daedalus made statues move with weights or quicksilver. Anthony Grafton, Harper's Magazine, 11 Oct. 2023 Shakti’s musical excellence, pinpoint ensemble work and the hair-raising velocity of its fiery instrumental exchanges and quicksilver improvisations drew fans of jazz, progressive rock and Indian classical music alike. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2023 Dickie, a student at Trinity College, wanders into a club debate, where he’s bewitched by the quicksilver sophistry of one of his peers, Willie, who is openly gay. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2023
Adjective
The comment was made when internet companies were thought to be quicksilver entities rather than institutions building legacies. Joanne McNeil, Harper's magazine, 20 Jan. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quicksilver.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1655, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quicksilver was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near quicksilver

Cite this Entry

“Quicksilver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quicksilver. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

quicksilver

noun
quick·​sil·​ver
-ˌsil-vər
Etymology

Noun

Old English cwicseolfor, from cwic "alive" and seolfor "silver"

Word Origin
The metal mercury resembles silver in color. Unlike silver and most other metals, though, mercury is liquid at ordinary temperatures. For that reason it is able to flow and to move almost as if it were alive. The Old English word for mercury was cwicseolfor, a combination of cwic, meaning "alive" or "moving," and seolfor, meaning "silver." The Modern English quicksilver comes from the Old English cwicseolfor.

Medical Definition

quicksilver

noun
quick·​sil·​ver -ˌsil-vər How to pronounce quicksilver (audio)

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