capriccio

American  

[kuh-pree-chee-oh, kah-preet-chaw] / kəˈpri tʃiˌoʊ, kɑˈprit tʃɔ /

noun

plural

capriccios, capricci

1. Music. a composition in a free, irregular style.

2. a caper; prank.

3. a whim; caprice.

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capriccio British  

/ kəˈprɪtʃɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. music a lively piece composed freely and without adhering to the rules for any specific musical form

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Etymology

Origin of capriccio

First recorded in 1595–1605; Italian “sudden startle,” possibly from capra “nanny goat” or capro “billy goat” (as of the skipping of a kid or goat), from Vulgar Latin capriceus “goat” (unattested); possibly from capo capo ² ( def. ) and riccio (adjective) “curly,” (noun) “hedgehog” ( arriccio ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Finally, Conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos appeared and gave the downbeat, and the perplexed audience settled down to the first U.S. performance of Ferruccio Busoni's "theatrical capriccio," Harlequin.

From Time Magazine Archive

I had in mind the definition of a capriccio given by Praetorius, the celebrated musical authority of the eighteenth century.

From An Autobiography by Stravinsky, Igor

The stillness returned, save for the little voices of the night—the owl's recitative, the capriccio of the crickets, the concerto of the frogs in the grass.

From Roads of Destiny by Henry, O.

He trembled lest he should have been the plaything of a whim, for he had heard what a capriccio might mean in an Italian.

From Albert Savarus by Marriage, Ellen

She did not go so far as to wish herself a sharer in the sentiment, but she thought it heroism on her part to repress the capriccio, as the Italians say.

From Beatrix by Wormeley, Katharine Prescott