caprice

Main Entry:
ca·price
\kə-ˈprēs\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
French, from Italian capriccio caprice, shudder, perhaps from capo head (from Latin caput) + riccio hedgehog, from Latin ericius — more at head, urchin
Date:
1667

1 a: a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action b: a sudden usually unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes (the caprices of the weather) 2: a disposition to do things impulsively 3: capriccio 3
synonyms caprice, whim, vagary, crotchet mean an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire. caprice stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness (by sheer caprice she quit her job). whim implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination (an odd antique that was bought on a whim). vagary stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire (recently he had been prone to strange vagaries). crotchet implies an eccentric opinion or preference (a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets).