Word of the Day: Capricious

Pronunciation: UK /kəˈprɪʃ.əs/ US /kəˈprɪʃ.əs/

Meaning

Capricious describes someone or something that changes suddenly and unpredictably, often without an obvious reason. It can be used for a person's behaviour, moods, decisions, weather or even events.

Examples for daily usage

The weather has been particularly capricious this week.

His capricious nature makes it difficult to know what he will do next.

The manager's capricious decisions left the team confused.

Origin and history

Capricious entered English in the late 16th century. It came through French ‘capricieux’, meaning whimsical, from Italian ‘capriccioso’, which was derived from ‘capriccio’, meaning a whim or sudden change of mind.

The deeper origin of Italian capriccio is uncertain. One old theory connects it to the Italian ‘capro’, meaning "goat", perhaps referring to the animal's sudden or lively movements. Another theory links it to Italian ‘capo’ ("head") and ‘riccio’ ("curled" or "hedgehog"). These are theories rather than established facts, so the goat explanation should not be treated as the definite origin of the word.

Also Read: Word of the Day, September 08: ‘Faff’ 

Cultural significance and modern usage

Today, capricious is generally used when unpredictability is the defining feature of someone's behaviour or of a situation. It often carries a slightly negative suggestion because the changes seem arbitrary or difficult to understand.

Unlike simply saying someone is "changeable", capricious often hints that the changes are driven by whim rather than a clear reason.

Interesting facts

Capricious and caprice are closely related. A caprice is a sudden or unexplained change of mind or a whim.

The adjective has been used in English since the 1590s, initially with the sense of being humorous before developing its modern association with fickleness and sudden changes.

The Italian word capriccio also gave English the musical term capriccio, referring to a free-form or playful musical composition.

Capriciously is the adverbial form, while capriciousness is the noun referring to the quality of being unpredictable or whimsical.

Examples from literature

  • “For a little while you will perhaps be as you are now, a very little while; and then you will turn cool; and then you will be capricious; and then you will be stern, and I shall have much ado to please you.” — Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
  • “No, you are not, and you never will be, arbitrary or capricious.” — The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James 

Synonyms

  • Fickle
  • Whimsical
  • Unpredictable
  • Erratic
  • Impulsive

Antonyms

  • Predictable
  • Consistent
  • Stable

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