善變 (–)

Question 1

capricious

Answer 1

capricious [kəˈprɪʃəs]
(a) 善變的
(MW1) changing often and quickly; especially: oftenchanging suddenly in moodor behavior
(MW2) governed orcharacterized by caprice: IMPULSIVE,UNPREDICTABLE, INCONSTANT
[衍] caprice [kəˈpris] (n) a sudden usuallyunpredictable condition, change, or series of changes <the caprices of the weather > “善變”。
[例] employees who are at the mercy of a capricious manager
[解] capricious 常形容人的想法變化很快、飄忽不定，來自山羊吃草時突然抖動的習性(山羊/摩羯座：Capricorn) 。
[記] 鈣 (Ca) 的價格 (price) 變來變去。

Question 2

mercurial

Answer 2

mercurial [mɝˈkjʊrɪəl]
(a) 善變的
(MW1) changing moods quickly and often
(MW2) characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood: INCONSISTENT <a mercurial temper >
[源] 從水星 (Mercury) 來，出生受到水星影響性格會 mercurial。
[衍] mercur [ˈmɝkjərɪ] (n) “善變”。
[例] The boss’s mood isso mercurial that we never know how he’sgoing to react to anything.

Question 3

fickle

Answer 3

fickle [ˈfɪkəl]
(a) 善變的
(MW1) changing often
(MW2) marked bylack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability: given to erratic changeableness: INCONSTANT <fickle weather >
[例] He blamespoor sales on fickle consumers.

Question 4

volatile

Answer 4

volatile [ˈvɑlətəl]
(a) 善變的
(MW1) likely to changein a very sudden or extremeway
(MW2) characterized by or subjectto rapid or unexpected change <a volatile market >
[衍] volatility [ˌvɑləˈtɪlətɪ] (n) “善變”。
[解] 原意是 “揮發的” (如水蒸氣在短暫時間內消失) 引申為 “善變的”。
[例] The stock market can bevery volatile.

Question 5

arbitrary

Answer 5

arbitrary [ˈɑrbəˌtrɛrɪ]
(a) 善變的
(MW1) not planned or chosen fora particular reason: not based onreason or evidence
(MW2) existingor coming about seemingly at random or by chance or as a capricious and unreasonable act of will <when a task is not seen in a meaningful context it isexperienced as being arbitrary >
[例] I don’t know why I chosethat one; it was a completely arbitrary decision.
[解] 另一義是 “專斷的” 而另外一義是 “任意的”。聯想：“善變的”、“專斷的”、“任意的” 的核心 概念都是 “變”。

Question 6

vagary

Answer 6

vagary [ˈvegərɪ]
(n) 突發奇想、異想天開 (= whim)
(MW) an erratic,unpredictable, or extravagant manifestation, action,or notion
[例] the vagaries of a rather eccentric,elderly lady

Question 7

haphazard

Answer 7

haphazard [ˌhæpˈhæzɚd]
(a) 隨意的
(MW) marked by lack of plan,order, or direction
[源] hap- (luck) + hazard (danger) ，“(隨意地) 靠運氣”是 “危險”的。
[例] Considering the haphazard way you measured the ingredients, it’s a wonder the cookiescame out this good.