- capricious
- adjective Date: 1601 governed or characterized by caprice ; impulsive, unpredictable Synonyms: see inconstant • capriciously adverb • capriciousness noun
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
capricious
Look at other dictionaries:
capricious — ca·pri·cious /kə pri shəs, prē / adj 1: governed or characterized by impulse or whim: as a: lacking a rational basis b: likely to change suddenly 2: not supported by the weight of evidence or established rules of law often used in the phrase… … Law dictionary
Capricious — Ca*pri cious (k[.a]*pr[i^]sh [u^]s), a. [Cf. F. capricieux, It. capriccioso.] Governed or characterized by caprice; apt to change suddenly; freakish; whimsical; changeable. Capricious poet. Shak. Capricious humor. Hugh Miller. [1913 Webster] A… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
capricious — 1590s, from Fr. capricieux (16c.), from It. capriccioso, from capriccio (see CAPRICCIO (Cf. capriccio)). Related: Capriciously; capriciousness … Etymology dictionary
capricious — mercurial, unstable, *inconstant, fickle Analogous words: *changeable, changeful, protean, variable: moody, humorsome (see corresponding nouns at MOOD): volatile, effervescent (see ELASTIC) Antonyms: steadfast Contrasted words: constant, resolute … New Dictionary of Synonyms
capricious — [adj] given to sudden behavior change any way the wind blows*, arbitrary, blowing hot and cold*, careless, changeful, contrary, crotchety, effervescent, erratic, every which way*, fanciful, fickle, fitful, flaky*, flighty, freakish, gaga*, helter … New thesaurus
capricious — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour. DERIVATIVES capriciously adverb capriciousness noun … English terms dictionary
capricious — [kə prish′əs, kəprē′shəs] adj. [Fr capricieux < It capriccioso: see CAPRICE] 1. subject to caprices; tending to change abruptly and without apparent reason; erratic; flighty 2. Obs. showing wit or fancifulness SYN. INCONSTANT capriciously adv … English World dictionary
capricious — [[t]kæprɪ̱ʃəs[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED Someone who is capricious often changes their mind unexpectedly. Gerald found that his wife was easily bored, capricious and unpredictable. ...capricious and often brutal leaders. Syn: impulsive, mercurial Derived … English dictionary
capricious — adj. capricious to + inf. (it was capricious to act in that manner) * * * [kə prɪʃəs] capricious to + inf. (it was capricious to act in that manner) … Combinatory dictionary
capricious — adjective Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim I almost died in a capricious winter storm. Syn: whimsical, arbitrary … Wiktionary
capricious — ca|pri|cious [kəˈprıʃəs] adj 1.) likely to change your mind suddenly or behave in an unexpected way ▪ She was as capricious as her mother had been. 2.) literary changing quickly and suddenly ▪ a capricious wind >capriciously adv … Dictionary of contemporary English
