volatile

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   liable to sudden change; easily evaporated or unstable

   The market grew volatile after the unexpected announcement.

Simplified etymology

Volatile came through Old French volatil from Latin volare, “to fly.” It was first a noun meaning “a creature that flies” and was also used collectively for birds. Its association with temperament dates from the mid-17th century, and its application to liquids that evaporate quickly from the later 17th century.

From Latin volatilis ('flying, fleeting'), from volare ('to fly'); originally applied to substances that readily fly off as vapor.

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External links

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