Caprice
/kəˈpriːs/noun
A sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.
Did you know?In Italian, 'caprice' originally referred to a type of whimsical musical composition, tying it to the unpredictable nature of creativity and inspiration.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
capricius
“fanciful, whimsical, playful.”
14th Century
Italian
capriccio
“a sudden whim or fancy, often in art or music.”
17th Century
French
caprice
“a sudden change or whim, often used to describe mood swings.”
Early 18th Century
English
caprice
“a sudden and unpredictable change in mood or behavior, adopted from French.”
Explore more surprising origins