Capricious

Definition

Given to sudden, unplanned changes in mood or behavior; unpredictable and impulsive, often governed by whim rather than reason. Describes both people and circumstances that are erratic.

Example Usage

The capricious weather made it impossible to plan the outdoor wedding with confidence.

Origin

From Italian 'capriccio' (literally 'goat-leap'), via French; originated in musical contexts before broadening to mean erratic behavior.

Fun Fact

The term connects to capra (goat) because goats were seen as jumping unpredictably, making 'caprice' synonymous with random leaps of behavior.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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