Back to all words

Capriccio

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a lively, free-form musical composition, or a whimsical impulse

Where does the word "capriccio" come from? It comes from Latin caper, passing through Italian before entering English (1600s-1690s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
caper
Latin · ancient
"goat"
one proposed root, 'goat', for its frisky, unpredictable movements
2
Stage 2 of 3
capriccio
Italian · 1500s
"a shudder; a caprice, whim"
originally 'a shivering', it came to mean a sudden whim or caprice
3
Stage 3 of 3
capriccio
English · 1600s-1690s
"a lively, free-form musical piece"
entered for a whim or prank, then specialized to a free-form musical composition
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom