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word of the day

The word for today is…

capricious (adj) – Characterised by, arising from, or subject to caprice; impulsive or unpredictable:

Source : The Free Dictionary

Etymology : The noun caprice, which first appeared in English in the mid-17th century, is a synonym of whim. Evidence shows that the adjective capricious debuted before caprice; both words are believed to derive, via French, from Italian capriccio, which originally referred not to a sudden desire but to a sudden shudder of fear. The origin of capriccio is uncertain, but the going theory has a certain charm. Capriccio is thought to perhaps be a compounding of Italian capo, meaning “head,” and riccio , meaning “hedgehog,” The image evoked in this “hedgehog head” mashup is of someone shuddering in fear to such a degree that their hair stands on end, like the spines of a hedgehog.

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