caprices

Noun

caprice (plural caprices)

1. An impulsive, seemingly unmotivated action, change of mind, or notion.
   • Though more thoughtful than Madame de Mercœur, yet it asked far more knowledge of society—that wilderness of small intricacies—for her to penetrate into the motives of those who seemed so suddenly struck with her fascination; but she was too clear-headed to be deceived, and set it all down under...1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXI, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 244

   Synonyms:

   whim

2. A brief romance.
   • The only difference between a caprice and a life-long passion is that a caprice lasts a little longer.1891, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   fling

3. An unpredictable or sudden condition, change, or series of changes.
   • After that we cast off all allegiance to immediate, tangible, and time-touched things, and entered a fantastic world of hushed unreality in which the narrow, ribbon-like road rose and fell and curved with an almost sentient and purposeful caprice amidst the tenantless green peaks and half-deserted...1931, H. P. Lovecraft, chapter 6, in The Whisperer in Darkness
4. A disposition to be impulsive.
   • Yet, Britain, vvhence this Caprice of thy Sons, / VVhich thro' their various ranks vvith fury runs? / The cauſe is plain, a cauſe vvhich vve muſt bleſs; / For Caprice is the Daughter of Succeſs, […]1726, [Edward Young], The Universal Passion. Satire the Last. To the Right Honourable Sir Robert Walpole., 1st edition, London: […] J[ames] Roberts […], →OCLC, page 2
5. A capriccio.

See all 6 meanings of caprice