caprice etymology

Etymology:

The word "caprice" originates from the Old French word "capricie," which in turn derived from the Italian "capriccio," meaning "a sudden whim or fancy." The Italian word comes from the Latin "caper," which means "a goat."

Meaning:

A caprice is a sudden, unpredictable desire or action that is often whimsical and impulsive. It may also refer to a quirk or eccentricity in someone's personality or behavior.

Origin:

The association of goats with capriciousness can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where goats were considered unpredictable and erratic animals known for their stubbornness and tendency to wander. In literature and mythology, goats were often depicted as creatures of whimsy and folly.

The word "caprice" began to be used in English in the 16th century, and it has since become a widely recognized synonym for unpredictable, impulsive behavior.

caprice relate terms

  • capriccio

    Etymology Italian capriccio Latin capra goat Meaning A whimsical or fancif

  • caprice

    Etymology The word caprice originates from the Old French word capricie which in tu

  • capricious

    Etymology Medieval Latin capriciusus from Latin caper goat Meaning A caprici

  • caprice

    Etymology The word caprice originates from the Old French word capricie which in tu

  • achieve

    Etymology Middle English acheven from Old French achever from Latin assequi follow

  • biceps

    Etymology Biceps brachii short for two headed muscle of the arm is a Latin term coin

  • cabbage

    Etymology Middle English cabach cabage Old North French caboche cabuige Late Latin

  • cabochon

    Etymology The word cabochon is derived from the French word caboche meaning head

  • caddie

    Etymology Caddie comes from the Scottish word caddie meaning errand boy or one

  • cadet

    Etymology The word cadet is derived from the French word cadet which in turn comes

  • cap a pie

    Etymology of Cap a Pie The phrase cap a pie originated from the Middle French phrase

  • cape

    Etymology The word cape originates from the Middle English cappe which itself is de

  • cape

    Etymology The word cape originates from the Middle English cappe which itself is de

  • capital

    Etymology Latin caput head Proto Indo European keput head Meaning Prim

  • capital

    Etymology Latin caput head Proto Indo European keput head Meaning Prim

  • capitate

    Etymology Latin caput head Meaning Relating to or resembling a head Origin T

  • capitation

    Etymology Latin capitatio head tax Late Latin capitatio medica a tax levied on d

  • capitulate

    Etymology Late Latin capitulare from Latin capitulum little head chapter Mean

  • capitulation

    Etymology From Latin capitulation from capitulare from caput head ulare verb

  • capitulum

    Etymology The word capitulum derives from Latin and has multiple meanings and origins d

  • capo

    Etymology The word capo is derived from the Italian word capo meaning head or chie

  • capo

    Etymology The word capo is derived from the Italian word capo meaning head or chie

  • caprice

    Etymology The word caprice originates from the Old French word capricie which in tu

  • capsize

    Etymology Old French capsier capsizer to overturn Latin capsus box case Meani

  • captain

    Etymology The word captain comes from the Latin word capitaneus which in turn comes

  • cattle

    Etymology The word cattle comes from the Old English word catel which originally re

  • caudillo

    Etymology The word caudillo is derived from the Spanish word caudal meaning leader

  • chapter

    Etymology The word chapter comes from the Latin word capitulum meaning head or he

  • chef

    Etymology The term chef originates from the Old French word chief which means head

  • chief

    Etymology of Chief The word chief comes from the Old French word chief which in tu

  • chieftain

    Etymology Old French chevetain leader Late Latin capitaneus captain leader Latin

  • corporal

    Etymology Middle English corporal from Anglo Norman corporal from Latin corporalis

  • decapitate

    Etymology The word decapitate derives from the Latin word decapitare which is a com

  • forehead

    Etymology Fore prefix head noun Meaning The front part of the head above the eye

  • head

    Etymology The word head comes from the Old English word heafod which itself derives

  • hetman

    Etymology The word hetman is of Polish origin derived from the Proto Germanic word ha

  • kaput

    Etymology The word kaput is derived from the German expression Ganz kaputt or kaput

  • kerchief

    Etymology Middle English kerechief from Old French couvrechief literally cover

  • mischief

    Etymology The word mischief comes from the Old French word meschief which is derived

  • occipital

    Etymology The word occipital comes from the Latin word occipitus meaning the back of

  • precipice

    Etymology The word precipice is derived from the Latin word praecipitium which means

  • precipitate

    Etymology Late Latin praecipitat praecipitatus past participle of praecipitare to h

  • precipitation

    Etymology precipitare Latin to fall rush down prae Latin prefix before down

  • recapitulate

    Etymology Recapitulate originates from the Latin word recapitulatio which means t

  • recapitulation

    Etymology Recapitulation derives from the Latin word recapitulatio meaning a headi

  • sinciput

    Etymology Latin sinciput Meaning forehead Origin Indo European root sekw mean

  • triceps

    Etymology The term triceps is derived from Latin and has the following etymology tr

  • impulse

    Etymology The word impulse comes from the Latin word impulsus which means a drivin

  • humor

    Etymology The word humor derives from the Latin word humor meaning liquid or mois

  • reside

    Etymology The word reside comes from the Latin verb residēre which means to sit do

  • jeopardy

    Etymology Jeopardy From Middle English jeupardie meaning risk or danger Ultimate

  • inventory

    Etymology The word inventory is derived from the Latin phrase inventarium meaning a

  • cringe

    Etymology of Cringe Cringe originates from the Middle English term cringen which f

  • skeptic

    Etymology Latin scēpticus from Greek skeptikos inquiring derived from skeptesth

  • jubilee

    Etymology The word jubilee originates from the Hebrew word yowbel which means ram