capricious
英 [kə'prɪʃəs] 美 [kə'prɪʃəs]
adj.变化无常的；任性的
◉Etymology
“Capricious”源自拉丁语“capriciosus”，意为“任性的”或“反复无常的”。这个词的词根是“capri”，意为“山羊”，而“capreolus”是一种小型山羊。在古希腊神话中，山羊被认为具有跳跃和变化的特性，因此“capricious”一词通过与山羊的联系，引申为形容那些难以预测或变化无常的事物。
◉外刊例句
① 《纽约时报》, 2024-11-02
The stock market has been particularly capricious this year, with prices fluctuating wildly.
今年的股市特别反复无常，价格波动剧烈。
② 《卫报》, 2024-09-10
The capricious nature of the weather made it impossible to plan an outdoor event with certainty.
天气的反复无常使得户外活动的计划变得无法确定。
◉经典名著
① 《了不起的盖茨比》（The Great Gatsby）, 弗朗西斯·斯科特·菲茨杰拉德, 1925
Daisy’s capricious behavior left Gatsby uncertain of her affections.
黛西的任性行为让盖茨比无法确定她的感情。
② 《战争与和平》（War and Peace）, 列夫·托尔斯泰, 1869
The capricious nature of the Russian aristocracy was reflected in their constant social shifts.
俄国贵族的反复无常在他们的社会关系中表现得淋漓尽致。
◉Usage Examples
(1) He judged her to be capricious, and easily weary of the pleasure of the moment.
(1) 他认为她是任性的，很容易对一时的快乐产生厌倦。
◉Usage Notes
Capricious is an adjective to describe a person or thing that's impulsive and unpredictable, like a bride who suddenly leaves her groom standing at the wedding altar.
You can criticize a fickle-minded person as capricious, but it could just as well describe quickly changing weather, as in "capricious spring storms." It's the adjective form of the noun caprice, which means a sudden change of mood. Caprice might come from capra, the Italian word for "goat" (because goats are frisky), or from capo, "head" + riccio, "hedgehog." Why bring hedgehogs into it? If you have a "hedgehog head," you are so scared that your hair is standing straight on end. A scared person makes sudden starts this way and that, just as a capricious person does.
◉Colins
1. [ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词]反复无常的；善变的 Someone who is capricious often changes their mind unexpectedly.
The Union accused Walesa of being capricious and undemocratic.
工会指责威尔沙反复无常，不讲民主。
...capricious and often brutal leaders.
任意妄为且残忍成性的领导人
capriciousness
Lady racehorse owners have a reputation for capriciousness.
赛马的女主人们出了名地性格多变。
2. [ADJ-GRADED 能被表示程度的副词或介词词组修饰的形容词]变幻莫测的；变幻无常的 Something that is capricious often changes unexpectedly. [LITERARY 文]
Both sides were troubled throughout by a capricious wind.
双方一直在为风向飘忽不定而苦恼。
...a theatre with notoriously capricious acoustics.
音响效果时好时坏、饱受诟病的剧院
capriciousness
Pat stuck it out, despite the capriciousness and inhospitality of the English weather.
尽管英国天气变化无常、十分糟糕，帕特还是挺了过来。
