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- Main Entry: ca·price
- Pronunciation: \kə-ˈprēs\
- Function: noun
- Etymology: French, from Italian capriccio caprice, shudder, perhaps from capo head (from Latin
caput) + riccio hedgehog, from Latin ericius
- Date: 1667
1 a: a
sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action
1 b: a
sudden usually unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes <the caprices of
the weather>
2: a disposition to do things impulsively
synonyms caprice, whim, vagary, crotchet mean an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire. caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness <by sheer caprice she quit her job>.
whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination <an odd antique that was bought on a whim>.
vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire <recently he had been prone
to strange vagaries>. crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference <a serious
scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets>.
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