A Latin god of commerce and gain; -- treated by the poets as
identical with the Greek Hermes, messenger of the gods, conductor of
souls to the lower world, and god of eloquence.
A metallic element mostly
obtained by reduction from cinnabar, one of its ores. It is a heavy,
opaque, glistening liquid (commonly called quicksilver), and
is used in barometers, thermometers, etc. Specific gravity 13.6.
Symbol Hg (Hydrargyrum). Atomic weight 199.8. Mercury has a
molecule which consists of only one atom. It was named by the
alchemists after the god Mercury, and designated by his symbol,
***mercury].
One of the planets of the
solar system, being the one nearest the sun, from which its mean
distance is about 36,000,000 miles. Its period is 88 days, and its
diameter 3,000 miles.
A carrier of tidings; a newsboy; a
messenger; hence, also, a newspaper.
Sprightly or mercurial quality; spirit;
mutability; fickleness.
A plant (Mercurialis
annua), of the Spurge family, the leaves of which are sometimes
used for spinach, in Europe.
In celebration of Noah Webster's Birthday (October 16, 2009), we have prepared an updated website. 
