capriccio
UK[kəˈpriːtʃɪəʊ]US[kəˈpriːtʃoʊ]
n
a lively piece of music, free in form and often virtuosic in nature.
n
a caprice; a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.
Etymology
the word 'capriccio' entered english in the late 16th century from italian, where it originally meant a sudden startle or shiver, and by extension, a whim or caprice. the italian term is thought to derive from 'capro', meaning 'goat', influenced by the association of goats with sudden, frisky leaps. this etymological path connects the animal's unpredictable movement to the musical term's sense of playful freedom and improvisation, and to the general meaning of a sudden, whimsical change.
Analysis
this word is a direct loanword from italian. it is not productively formed from smaller, recognizable english morphemes and therefore is not segmented.
Examples
the pianist performed a dazzling capriccio by rachmaninoff.
his decision to travel the world was a pure capriccio, made on the spur of the moment.
the final movement is a brilliant capriccio, full of technical flourishes.