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.
实用例句
1. Don't act on caprice. Study your problem.
不要任性行事, 研究一下自己的问题.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. He acted not from reason, but from caprice.
他不是凭理智, 而是凭幻想来行动.
来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
3. 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.
来自辞典例句
4. 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.
来自辞典例句
5. With a sudden caprice of the wind, the boat was turned over.
