quicksilver
Thermometer's silver fluid
Quicksilver is an old name for mercury, the liquid metal that flows and shifts unpredictably at room temperature.
The word now appears mainly as an adjective meaning mercurial—rapidly changing, elusive, hard to pin down: her quicksilver moods, a quicksilver mind that leaps from topic to topic.
Heat-measuring instrument
- barometerInstrument gauging atmospheric pressure
- amalgamMixture of disparate parts
- cinnabarRed mercuric sulfide ore
- liquid metalMetallic substance in fluid state
toxicity · neurotoxin · heavy metal · Hg · silvery · dense · droplets · globules
Pale metallic sheen
- shimmeringGleaming with wavering light
- lustrousSoftly bright, reflective
- reflectiveCasting back light
- gleamingReflecting light brightly
bright · mirror-like · fluid · rippling · pooling · beading · glinting · iridescent
Prone to sudden change
- changeableCapable of alteration
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
- fickleErratically disloyal in affection
volatile · inconstant · erratic · temperamental · moody · whimsical · impulsive · elusive
Moving with speed
- fleetVehicles under unified command
- dartingMoving suddenly, swiftly
- nimbleQuick and light-moving
- quickMoving with speed
rapid · lightning · sprightly · flashing · streaking · bolting · dashing · elusive
Legendary substance enabling transmutation
- transmutationComplete change of form
- elixirMythical healing draught
- hermeticismAirtight, impervious condition
- magnum opusCreator's supreme achievement
alembic · crucible · base metals · esoteric · arcane · occultism · hermetic
thermometer
Heat-measuring instrument
- barometerInstrument gauging atmospheric pressure
- amalgamMixture of disparate parts
- cinnabarRed mercuric sulfide ore
liquid metal · toxicity · neurotoxin · heavy metal · Hg · silvery · dense · droplets · globules · sphygmomanometer
silvery
Pale metallic sheen
- shimmeringGleaming with wavering light
- lustrousSoftly bright, reflective
- reflectiveCasting back light
gleaming · bright · mirror-like · fluid · rippling · pooling · beading · glinting · iridescent
mercurial
Prone to sudden change
- changeableCapable of alteration
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
fickle · volatile · inconstant · erratic · temperamental · moody · whimsical · impulsive · elusive · restless
swift
Moving with speed
quick · rapid · lightning · sprightly · flashing · streaking · bolting · dashing · elusive · scurrying
philosopher's stone
Legendary substance enabling transmutation
- transmutationComplete change of form
- elixirMythical healing draught
- hermeticismAirtight, impervious condition
magnum opus · alembic · crucible · base metals · esoteric · arcane · occultism · hermetic
- magical substancesmana, ichor, ambrosia, nectar, ether
- Old Sciencephlogiston, aether, ether, caloric, miasma
- old chemistryphlogiston, alchemy, caloric, aqua regia, muriatic acid
- Trivial Namesbaking soda, table salt, laughing gas, dry ice, caustic soda
- medieval metalsiron, steel, bronze, copper, gold
- metal folklorealchemy, cold iron, cursed gold, fairy gold, leprechaun gold
quicksilverunchangeable
Impossible to modify
constant · stable · steady · steadfast · predictable
quicksilversluggish
Slow and inactive
immobile · stationary · motionless · slow · leaden
silver, quick-freeze, quickness, quicken, quicksand, quicker, quick-witted, quickening, quicklime