caprice

• n. 任性，反复无常；随想曲，怪想

来自拉丁词caper, 山羊。因山羊喜欢踏踏跳跳和突然踢出后腿，因而引申此义。

1. a sudden desire;

"he bought it on an impulse"

caprice

caprice: [17] Etymologically, caprice means ‘hedgehog-head’. It comes, via French caprice, from an Italian noun capriccio, formed from capo ‘head’ (from Latin caput) and riccio ‘hedgehog’ (from Latin ericeus, source of English urchin). Originally this meant ‘horror, shuddering’, the reference being to the hair of a terror-stricken person standing on end. The word’s present-day meaning ‘whim, fickleness’ seems to be partly due to association with Italian capra ‘goat’, from the animal’s frisky behaviour.
=> urchin

caprice (n.)

"sudden change of mind," 1660s, from French caprice "whim" (16c.), from Italian capriccio "whim," originally "a shivering," possibly from capro "goat," with reference to frisking, from Latin capreolus "wild goat" (see cab). But another theory connects the Italian word with capo "head" + riccio "curl, frizzled," literally "hedgehog" (from Latin ericius). The notion in this case would be of the hair standing on end in horror, hence the person shivering in fear.

I lived in terror of her sudden caprices and moods.

她的任性妄为和喜怒无常让我整天提心吊胆。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Don't act on caprice. Study your problem.

不要任性行事, 研究一下自己的问题.

《简明英汉词典》

His lack of money was the result of caprice in spending on unnecessary things.

他缺钱的原因是随意的买一些并不需要的东西.

期刊摘选

He acted not from reason, but from caprice.

他不是凭理智, 而是凭幻想来行动.

《现代英汉综合大词典》

Caprice runs in her blood.

她生性善变.

期刊摘选

Her refusal to go to the party is a mere caprice.

她拒绝参加宴会完全是无理由的突发之举.

辞典例句

I have suffered a martyrdom from their incompetency and caprice.

他们的无能和任性折磨得我够受了.

辞典例句

Ada and I agreed that this Caprice about the wind was a fiction.

婀达和我都认为这个对风向的反复无常的说法全是假话.

辞典例句

He gratify every caprice.

他对每一种异想天开感到满意.

期刊摘选

Mr Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour , reserve, and caprice.

班纳特先生是个古怪人,他一方面喜欢插科打诨, 爱挖苦人,同时又不苟言笑, 变幻莫测.

辞典例句

We should solve the corresponding plan in caprice and seeking change innovatively.

求变善变、用创新解决应对方案.

期刊摘选

With a sudden caprice of the wind, the boat was turned over.

船因风向突然改变而倾覆.

辞典例句

The baron might possibly have perceived it, but attributing it to a caprice, feigned ignorance.

男爵或许也觉察到她那种态度, 但他认为这只是他女儿的怪僻, 假装不知道.

期刊摘选

Her decision to wear only black clothes was pure caprice.

她决定只穿黑衣服完全是忽发奇想.

辞典例句

To execute any caprice or order of her patients is her chiefest joy and reward.

执行病人的任何离奇想法或命令,是她的最重要的欢乐和酬劳.

辞典例句

Let our friendship be a caprice.

就让我们的友谊算作一时遣兴吧.

辞典例句