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vagaryan unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈveɪɡəri/

Example Sentences

  • My cat's vagaries include sleeping in the sink one day and refusing to enter the bathroom the next.
  • The vagaries of teenage mood swings kept her parents constantly guessing.
  • He blamed the vagaries of his GPS for arriving three hours late to the wedding.

vagary

NOUN

[/ˈveɪɡəri/]

an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior

A sudden vagary of the weather dumped thick snow directly onto the sunny beach.
💡 Concept

A sudden vagary of the weather dumped thick snow directly onto the sunny beach.

VAG(wander) + ARY(place) — wandering off the safe path into the thorny bushes is a dangerous vagary.
🧠 Mnemonic

VAG(wander) + ARY(place) — wandering off the safe path into the thorny bushes is a dangerous vagary.

By a sudden vagary, the bakery started selling raw fish instead of bread.
🎵 Rhyme

By a sudden vagary, the bakery started selling raw fish instead of bread.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈveɪɡəri/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈveɪɡəri/

🌳Etymology

Rootvag
Suffix--ary

Origin

From Latin 'vagari' meaning 'to wander' or 'to roam,' combined with the suffix '-y' to form a noun. The word entered English in the 16th century, initially referring to wandering or roaming, later evolving to mean an unexpected change or whim.

Breakdown

vag- (wander, from Latin vagari) + -ary (relating to, noun suffix) = vagary

🎵Rhyme

salarybatterygallery
salary
battery
gallery

🔗Collocations

vagaries of weather
vagaries of fortune
vagaries of fashion
subject to vagaries
human vagaries

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My cat's vagaries include sleeping in the sink one day and refusing to enter the bathroom the next.

The vagaries of teenage mood swings kept her parents constantly guessing.

😄 Fun example

He blamed the vagaries of his GPS for arriving three hours late to the wedding.

The vagaries of politics made it impossible to predict the election outcome.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

whimcapriceficklenessunpredictabilityeccentricity

Antonyms

consistencypredictabilitystability

Related

vagrantvaguecapriciouswhimsicalerratic

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