Langimage
English

capriciously

|ca-pric-ious-ly|

C1

/kəˈprɪʃ.əs.li/

(capricious)

unpredictable behavior

Base FormNounAdverb
capriciouscapriciousnesscapriciously
Etymology
Etymology Information

'capricious' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'capriccio,' where 'capo' meant 'head' and 'riccio' meant 'curly' or 'hedgehog.'

Historical Evolution

'capriccio' transformed into the French word 'capricieux,' and eventually became the modern English word 'capricious' through Middle English.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'a sudden change of mind,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'unpredictable or whimsical.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adverb 1

in a manner that is unpredictable or subject to sudden changes.

She capriciously decided to change her travel plans at the last minute.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45