caprice

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior

   The king's every caprice became law overnight.

Simplified etymology

Caprice entered English in the mid-17th century from Italian capriccio. One traditional explanation derives capriccio from capo, “head,” and riccio, “hedgehog,” describing hair standing on end in fear; the word then meant “horror” or “shuddering” before developing the senses “sudden start” and “sudden change of mood.” Its later development may also have been influenced by Italian caper.

From French caprice, from Italian capriccio ('a shiver, sudden start'), originally 'a head with bristling hair', from capo ('head') + riccio ('hedgehog'); later associated with capra ('goat').

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary