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Jovial vs Mercurial - What's the difference?

jovial | mercurial |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between jovial and mercurial

is that jovial is (obsolete) pertaining to the planet jupiter; jovian while mercurial is (obsolete) any of the plants known as mercury.

As adjectives the difference between jovial and mercurial

is that jovial is (obsolete) pertaining to jove or zeus; jovian while mercurial is (often capitalized, see (mercurial)) pertaining to the planet mercury.

As a noun mercurial is

(obsolete) any of the plants known as mercury.

jovial

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Pertaining to Jove or Zeus; Jovian.
  • (obsolete) Pertaining to the planet Jupiter; Jovian.
  • (astrology, obsolete) Under the influence of the planet Jupiter (considered a source of happiness).
  • Merry; cheerful and good-humored.
  • * , chapter=16
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“[…] She takes the whole thing with desperate seriousness. But the others are all easy and jovial —thinking about the good fare that is soon to be eaten, about the hired fly, about anything.”}}

    mercurial

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Any of the plants known as mercury.
  • (astrology) Someone born under the influence of Mercury.
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (often capitalized, see (Mercurial)) Pertaining to the planet Mercury.
  • (often capitalized, see (Mercurial)) Pertaining to the Roman god Mercury, the god of trade; hence, money-making; crafty..
  • * J. Q. Adams
  • the mercurial wand of commerce
  • (astrology) Born under the influence of the planet Mercury, and having such characteristics.
  • Of, or pertaining to the element mercury; containing mercury; caused by the action of mercury or quicksilver.
  • Having a volatile or lively character; quick-witted, changeable, animated.
  • * 1723 , Charles Walker, Memoirs of Sally Salisbury , I:
  • From the natural Mercurial Briskness of her Temper, a sedentary Life had ever been her Aversion [...].

    Derived terms

    * mercurial eczema * mercurial glossitis * mercurial ointment * mercurial phosphorus * mercurial pneumatic trough * mercurial rash * mercurial trough * mercurialisation, mercurialization * mercurialise, mercurialize * mercurialism * mercurialist * mercuriality * mercurially * organomercurial