Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The quality of being capricious; whimsicalness; unsteadiness of purpose or opinion: as, “great capriciousness of taste,” ; “the capriciousness of a sickly heart,”
- noun Unsteadiness; liableness to sudden changes; irregularity: as, the capriciousness of fortune.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The quality of being
capricious .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the trait of acting unpredictably and more from whim or caprice than from reason or judgment
- noun the quality of being guided by sudden unpredictable impulses
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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But love must be a pleasure, and if I do not find in it the satisfaction of what you call my capriciousness, but which is really my desire, my life, my love, I do not want it; I prefer to live alone.
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But love must be a pleasure, and if I do not find in it the satisfaction of what you call my capriciousness, but which is really my desire, my life, my love, I do not want it; I prefer to live alone.
The Red Lily — Complete Anatole France 1884
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Robert Burton threw light on the "capriciousness" and accidentally of this kind of (apparent) amorous preference when he wrote that "it is impossible, almost, for two young folks equal in years to live together and not be in love;" and further he says, sagaciously:
Primitive Love and Love-Stories Henry Theophilus Finck 1890
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Not more surprised than alarmed, China Aster thought of taking steamboat to go and see Orchis, but he was saved that expense by the unexpected arrival in Marietta of Orchis in person, suddenly called there by that strange kind of capriciousness lately characterizing him.
The Confidence-Man 1857
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Aster thought of taking steamboat to go and see Orchis, but he was saved that expense by the unexpected arrival in Marietta of Orchis in person, suddenly called there by that strange kind of capriciousness lately characterizing him.
The Confidence-Man Herman Melville 1855
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Yanukovich says the pro-European Tymoshenko should start acting like the prime minister that she currently is or "get back to the kitchen" and continue her "capriciousness" there.
euronews 2010
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If you pay attention you realize the future only allows humanity and nature opportunities to exercise capriciousness.
2011 - What I Wanted Larry Strattner 2011
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The joys of the story -- Aang's impish capriciousness, Katara's valiance, Soka's buffoonery, even Uncle Iroh's avuncular charm -- have all been el […] (author unknown)
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The joys of the story -- Aang's impish capriciousness, Katara's valiance, Soka's buffoonery, even Uncle Iroh's avuncular charm -- have all been el […] (author unknown)
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Associated Press Even before this case, India's tax system had a formidable reputation for capriciousness.
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