caprice

ca·price

Use caprice in a sentence

noun

The definition of a caprice is a sudden or impulsive change.

A groom leaving a bride while standing at the altar is an example of a caprice action.
Snow falling in Los Angeles in the middle of the summer is an example of a caprice.

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"caprice." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/caprice>.

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caprice. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/caprice

caprice

a sudden, impulsive change in the way one thinks or acts; freakish notion; whim
a capricious quality or nature
Music a capriccio

Origin of caprice

French from Italian capriccio, a shivering, whim from capo ( from Classical Latin caput, head) + riccio, curl, frizzled, literally , hedgehog ( from Classical Latin ericius: see urchin); hence, origin, originally , head with bristling hair, horripilation; meaning influenced, influence by associated, association with Italian capriola (see capriole) and capra from Classical Latin capra, she-goat

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MLA Style

"caprice." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/caprice>.

APA Style

caprice. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/caprice

caprice

noun

a. An impulsive change of mind: “I find it a relief that plagues and cancers … are the result of the impartial—and comprehensible—forces of evolution rather than the caprices of a deity” ( Olivia Judson )
b. An inclination to change one's mind impulsively: tyrants who rule by caprice.
c. A sudden, unpredictable action or change: the caprices of the wind.
Music A capriccio.

Origin of caprice

French from Italian capriccio from caporiccio fright, sudden start ( originally, “head with the hair standing on end (resembling a hedgehog)”, but later influenced by capra goat, because of goats' frisky movements ) capo head ( from Latin caput ; see kaput- in Indo-European roots.) riccio curly ( from Latin ēricius hedgehog ) ( from ēr )

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"caprice." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 05 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/caprice>.

APA Style

caprice. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/caprice

Noun

(plural caprices)

An impulsive, seemingly unmotivated notion or action.
An unpredictable or sudden condition, change, or series of changes.
A disposition to be impulsive.
An impulsive change of mind.

Origin

Borrowing from French caprice, from Italian capriccio, from caporiccio (“fright, sudden start”): capo (“head”), from Latin caput + riccio (“curly”), from Latin ericius (“hedgehog”), or from Italian capro (“goat”)