inconstant

inconstant
adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin inconstant-, inconstans, from in- + constant-, constans constant Date: 15th century likely to change frequently without apparent or cogent reason • inconstantly adverb Synonyms: inconstant, fickle, capricious, mercurial, unstable mean lacking firmness or steadiness (as in purpose or devotion). inconstant implies an incapacity for steadiness and an inherent tendency to change <
an inconstant friend
>
. fickle suggests unreliability because of perverse changeability and incapacity for steadfastness <
performers discover how fickle fans can be
>
. capricious suggests motivation by sudden whim or fancy and stresses unpredictability <
an utterly capricious critic
>
. mercurial implies a rapid changeability in mood <
made anxious by her boss's mercurial temperament
>
. unstable implies an incapacity for remaining in a fixed position or steady course and applies especially to a lack of emotional balance <
too unstable to hold a job
>
.

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • inconstant — inconstant, ante [ ɛ̃kɔ̃stɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1265; lat. inconstans 1 ♦ Vieilli ou littér. Qui n est pas constant, change facilement (d opinion, de sentiment, de conduite). ⇒ changeant, instable, léger, versatile. Inconstant dans ses idées, dans ses …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • inconstant — inconstant, ante (in kon stan, stan t ) adj. 1°   Qui n est pas constant, qui est sujet à changer, en parlant des personnes. •   Mais que sert un bon choix dans une âme inconstante, CORN. Sophon, IV, 2. •   Ne vous assurez point sur ce coeur… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • inconstant — INCONSTÁNT, Ă, inconstanţi, te, adj. (Despre oameni şi manifestările lor) Care nu este constant; schimbător, nestatornic, instabil, uşuratic. – Din fr. inconstant. Trimis de valeriu, 21.07.2003. Sursa: DEX 98  Inconstant ≠ constant, nelabil,… …   Dicționar Român

  • inconstant — Inconstant, [inconst]ante. adj. Volage, qui est sujet à changer. Homme inconstant. femme inconstante. esprit inconstant, inconstant en ses resolutions, en ses desseins, en ses amitiez. Prince inconstant en ses alliances, inconstant en amour. Il… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Inconstant — In*con stant, a. [L. inconstans: cf. F. inconstant. See {In } not, and {Constant}.] Not constant; not stable or uniform; subject to change of character, appearance, opinion, inclination, or purpose, etc.; not firm; unsteady; fickle; changeable;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inconstant — inconstant, fickle, capricious, mercurial, unstable mean lacking or showing lack of firmness or steadiness in purpose, attachment, or devotion. Inconstant, usually applied to persons though sometimes to things, suggests an inherent or… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • inconstant — [in kän′stənt] adj. [OFr < L inconstans] not constant; changeable; specif., a) not remaining firm in mind or purpose b) unsteady in affections or loyalties; fickle c) not uniform in nature, value, etc.; irregular; variable inconstancy n.… …   English World dictionary

  • inconstant — (adj.) c.1400, fickle, not steadfast, from M.Fr. inconstant (late 14c.), from L. inconstantem (nom. inconstans) changeable, fickle, capricious, from in not, opposite of, without (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + constantem (see CONSTANT (Cf. constant)).… …   Etymology dictionary

  • inconstant — index broken (interrupted), capricious, desultory, faithless, false (disloyal), inconsistent …   Law dictionary

  • inconstant — [adj] changeable capricious, changeful, erratic, fickle, flickering, fluctuating, impulsive, inconsistent, intermittent, irregular, irresolute, mercurial, shifting, uncertain, undependable, unreliable, unsettled, unstable, vacillating, variable,… …   New thesaurus

  • inconstant — et volage, Homo instabilis, Volaticus, Mobilis, Leuis, Inconstans, Desultorius …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

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