whimsy English · revision 1237

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈwɪmzi/, /ˈʍɪmzi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably related to ''whim-wham'' “fanciful object”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) with an ending perhaps patterned on words such as ''dropsy'' and ''topsy''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) [[whim|alt=Whim]] is its later short form.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A capricious notion or fancy (1605).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Early senses included dizziness and a wench, both obsolete.^(OED 1989) From a whim the word extended to a whimsical quality or humour^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and to any fanciful creation in writing or art.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1605 – a whim.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1653 – ''whimsical''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1684 – a merry-go-round, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1712 – capricious humour.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Playful, fanciful humour, as in writing or design.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An odd or fanciful idea; a [[whim]] or [[caprice]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A fanciful creation, especially in writing or art.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[whimsical]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[whim]]

+ * [[whim-wham]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''caprice'', ''whim'' and ''humor'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}