fickle

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

English [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Etymology 1 [edit]

From Middle English fikil, fikil, from Old English ficol (fickle, cunning, tricky , deceitful), equivalent to fike +‎ -le. More at fike.

Adjective [edit]

fickle (comparative fickler or more fickle, superlative ficklest or most fickle)

  1. Quick to change one’s opinion or allegiance; insincere; not loyal or reliable.
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]

Etymology 2 [edit]

From Middle English fikelen, from fikel (fickle); see above. Cognate with Low German fikkelen (to deceive, flatter), German ficklen, ficheln (to deceive, flatter).

Verb [edit]

fickle (third-person singular simple present fickles, present participle fickling, simple past and past participle fickled)

  1. (transitive) To deceive; flatter.
  2. (transitive, UK dialectal) To puzzle; perplex; nonplus.