(a) The Roman god Mercury; -- in early times identified with the Germanic Woden; (b) the planet Mercury; also, a representation of the planet in an astrological table; (c) a plant; prob. chenopodium; ?also, dog's foot (Mercurialis perennis); (d) alch. quicksilver, mercury; also, sophic mercury; [cp. dragoun, sense 5.]; also, one of three subtle substances used in alchemical processes, ? = ~ essencial [cp. menstrue n.]; ~ crude, commune ~, ~ natural, quicksilver; sublimed ~, quicksilver purified by sublimation; ~ water, either aqua regia or bichloride of mercury.