Etymology: Word History - Quicksilver/Mercury.

 History of the Word:  

Quicksilver-Liquid Silver. The history of the word comes from Latin. One needs to know that Quicksilver comes from two words: cwic and seolfor. Cwic means running, moving, shifting.

Mercury

points to the God Mercury. Mercury was the "god of commerce and the fleet footed messenger of the gods."This God exemplified the type of material that Quicksilver was.  The silver that ran and was not solid, that moved between the fingers like jelly.  

NGram Viewer Popularity of the Word: The Word's highest use was between 1820-1840.

The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories ( Miriam Webster Inc., 1991),385

The Numerological Value of the Word Mercury

Mercury
4593397
99697
18 15 7
18 22
40
4: According to Wikipedia this word has a strong sense of order and values, struggles against limits, steady growth, highly practical, scientific mind, attention to detail, foundation for achievment, a genius for organization, fine management skills.
Negative Traits: Lack of imagination, caught up in detail, stubborn fixed opinions, argumentative, slow to act, too serious, confused.

Etymology: Word History - OK

OK:The history of the abbreviation is deep, and has many stories linked to it.   OK is most likely the deliberately misspelled oll korrect. Many American humorists from the 1820's deliberately misspelled words.  They did this in order to look like Country Folk/Bumpkins.

Off To Kinderhook

OK may have gone into Obscurity had it non been for Martin Van Buren, the democratic candidate in 1840. Martin Van Buren was the current president.  The Campaign for re-election captured the craze of saying Ok and associated it with Martin Van Buren's home town: Old Kinderhook, New York. This was a catchy way to remember to vote for Van Buren was a vote for OK. The Whigs re-incorporated OK to a new meaning for the departure of the current president.   The Whigs flaunted the departure of Van Buren with the saying "off to Kinderhook."
The Myth around OK is fascinating and has a number of stories connected to it.   As far as The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories knows, the Martin Van Buren campaign was the biggest influence on this use of that word.

Quote

“Some people wear their smile like a disguise. Those people who smile a lot, watch their eyes. I know 'cause I'm like that a lot. You think everything's ok, and it is . . . 'till it's not.” Ani Difranco quotes 

Ngram Popularity

OK is currently at its height of popularity.   


The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories ( Miriam Webster Inc., 1991), 329-331

Etymology: Word History - Jade

Defined:
 Jade was believed to have medicinal/magical powers and be effective on the kidneys.   Jades name in Spanish translates to "loin stone".  Jade also meant broken down horse, to be Jaded was to be broken down.  Jade also referred to a broken down woman of ill repute.  

Quote:

I

A pretty girl at time o' gloaming Hath whispered me to go and meet her Without the city gate. I love her, but she tarries coming. Shall I return, or stay and greet her? I burn, and wait.

II

Truly she charmeth all beholders,

'Tis she hath given me this jewel, The jade of my delight; But this red jewel-jade that smoulders, To my desire doth add more fuel, New charms to-night.

III

She has gathered with her lily fingers A lily fair and rare to see. Oh! sweeter still the fragrance lingers From the warm hand that gave it me.

A Lute of Jade by Cranmer-Byng, L.

Ngram Popularity:
Jade was most popularly used between 1920 and 1940.

And Most Interesting Usage:
Popular Science in February 1923 reported a statue of a Maori Warrior carved out of Jade.  Read It Here. 

The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories ( Miriam Webster Inc., 1991), 492.

Etymology: Word History

Venom

The word comes from the name of Venus. Venus, a god, whose name means love, charm, adorn, and to worship.  Venus was known for creating a love potion which she used to help Aeneas escape from the burning city of Troy.   She protected him from the enmity of Juno.  She made Dido, queen of Carthage, fall in love with him and grant him refuge at a time when Aeneas's had his back against the wall. Venom became malicious over time and became a word that means a malicious deadly drink.   As Edgar Allan Poe wrote:

III

And pride, what have I now with thee? Another brow may ev'n inherit The venom thou hast poured on me Be still my spirit!

The Google NGRAM viewer shows this word was most popular in  the period between 1910 and 1920.  

Interesting articles outside of the usual ones about Plants, Spiders, and Snakes was the Weekly World News which reported that Snake Venom could be used to prevent brain damage.   Read it here.

Grant. Michael and John Hazel Who's Who Classical Mythology  (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), 141-142.

The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories ( Miriam Webster Inc., 1991), 492.