词义

读音：vagary /'veɪgərɪ/

词义：变化莫测，反复无常

词性：名词

级别：GRE

出处：

出自拉丁语 vagārī (漫游，徘徊)，字面本义是 wandering journey (漫游的旅程)。16世纪进入英语时指 physical wandering (身体漫游)，后引申 mental wandering (思想漫游)。到了17世纪，逐渐定型为现在的含义，指思想或行为上的离题与怪诞。

用法

Vagary 最常用其复数形式 vagaries，出现于 the vagaries of 的结构中。

The vagaries of the stock market make investors nervous.股市的变幻莫测让投资者紧张。The vagaries of fashion mean today’s trend is tomorrow’s joke.时尚的反复无常意味着今天的潮流就是明天的笑柄。He was a victim of the vagaries of fate.他是命运无常的受害者。The old sailor was used to the vagaries of the sea.老水手早已习惯了大海的喜怒无常。The vagaries of the gold price are hard to predict.金价的反复无常很难预测。The vagaries of public opinion can make or break a politician.舆论的反复无常能成就也能毁掉一个政客。He was lost in the vagaries of his own imagination.他沉浸在自己天马行空的想象中。His decision was not based on reason, but on a mere vagary.他的决定并非基于理性，只是出于一时任性。

近义

Vagary 近义词按难度级别由低到高：

四六级

oddity /'ɑːdətɪ/：古怪的人或事

notion /'nəʊʃn/：突发奇想

peculiarity /pɪkju:lɪ'ærətɪ/：怪癖

fluctuation /flʌktʃʊ'eɪʃn/：波动，起伏

出国

quirk /kwɜːrk/：怪癖，怪事

foible /'fɔɪbl/：怪癖

kink /kɪŋk/：怪癖，怪念头

caprice /kə'pri:s/：反复无常

eccentricity /eksen'trɪsətɪ/：古怪

idiosyncrasy /ɪdɪə'sɪŋkrəsɪ/：习性，癖好

unpredictability/ʌnprɪdɪktə'bɪlətɪ/：不可预测性

whim：心血来潮

vicissitude：变化无常

无级别

crotchet /'krɑːtʃɪt/：怪念头

同源

Vagary 的词根 vag 表示漫游，常用同源词：

vagrant /'veɪgrənt/：流浪汉 (n.)

divagate /'daɪvəgeɪt/：离题 (v.)

vague /veɪg/：含糊的 (a.)

vagabond /'vægəbɑːnd/：无业游民 (n.)

extravagant /ɪk'strævəgənt/：奢侈的 (a.)

影视

△Big Fish (《大鱼》2003)

名著

以下文字摘自《呼啸山庄》第9章。

"But I don't like the carving-knife, Mr. Hindley," I answered. "It has been cutting red herrings. I'd rather be shot, if you please."

"You'd rather be damned!" he said. "And so you shall. No law in England can hinder a man from keeping his house decent, and mine's abominable! Open your mouth."He held the knife in his hand, and pushed its point between my teeth: but, for my part, I was never much afraid of his vagaries. I spat out, and affirmed it tasted detestably— I would not take it on any account.

可我不喜欢切肉刀，辛德雷先生，”我回答，“这刀刚切过熏青鱼。要是你愿意的话，我情愿被枪杀。”“你还是遭天杀吧，”他说，“而且你将来也非遭不可。在英格兰没有一条法律能禁止一个人把他的家弄得像样些，可我的家却乱七八糟！——张开你的嘴！”他握住刀子，把刀尖向我的牙齿缝里戳。而我可从来不太怕他的奇想。我唾一下，肯定说味道很讨厌——我无论如何不要吞下去。