caprice
/kə'pri:s/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A sudden, unpredictable, and often illogical change of mind, mood, or behavior: A caprice is a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or change in desire, often without regard for reason or practicality.
- A sudden, impulsive decision or action: It refers to an action taken on a whim, driven by a momentary fancy rather than careful thought.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- Her decision to quit her job and travel the world was a pure caprice.
- The director was known for his artistic caprices, often changing the script at the last minute.
- He bought the expensive watch on a caprice, regretting it later.
Advanced Usage
"A creature of caprice": A person whose actions are governed by whims and sudden fancies.
- The king was a creature of caprice, making and changing laws based on his daily moods.
"The caprice of fate/fortune": Used to describe the unpredictable and seemingly arbitrary nature of luck or destiny.
- They were victims of the caprice of fate, losing everything in a sudden storm.
Variants and Related Words
Capricious (adj): Characterized by or subject to sudden, unpredictable changes.
- The capricious weather made planning the picnic difficult.
Capriccio (n): In music, a lively, free-form composition; also used similarly to 'caprice' for a whim.
- The composer wrote a brilliant piano capriccio.
Synonyms
- Whim: A sudden desire or change of mind.
- Impulse: A sudden, spontaneous urge or desire to act.
- Vagary: An unpredictable, erratic, or extravagant manifestation or action.
Idioms and Phrases
"At the caprice of...": Subject to the unpredictable will or whim of someone or something.
- The servants lived at the caprice of their demanding master.
"A mere caprice": An action or desire dismissed as trivial, fleeting, and without serious foundation.
- His interest in painting was not a mere caprice; he pursued it diligently for years.