We explain what something fickle is, its literal and metaphorical use and the origin of the term. Also, its connotations and antonyms.
What is something fickle?
When we call something fickle, or we speak of the fickleness of something, we mean that it is something fickle, not firm, that is, it changes very often and unpredictably. The persons fickle, for example, are those that have a personality easily changeable, ethereal, little rooted, and therefore it is difficult to pin down in the long term what they are like and what they like.
East adjective It comes from the Latin volubilis, which means "that turns or curls", "rotatable" or "changing", since it comes from the verb I will be back, "Roll up" or "turn around", from which the Spanish verb "wrap" also comes, for example. This historical origin explains why in the field of botany fickle is still used to refer to the plants whose stem tends to twist or wrap itself around something, as is the case with vines.
So, in general, we use the term fickle to refer to something that goes around, but in a way figurative. That is, metaphorically. For example, a fickle personality, as we said before, is one that changes opinions, habits and ways of being with ease, which does not necessarily mean that that person suffers from some disease (such as cyclothymia or bipolarity).
Similarly, a commitment fickle is one that is not always fulfilled, or that is fulfilled at times; And a fickle love, likewise, is one that is not firmly anchored in the heart, but comes and goes quickly. As will be seen, the fickleness in our culture it is associated with what is unreliable, with little durability, with what has few ties and little firmness.
Hence, they are antonyms of fickle adjectives: firm, faithful, constant, tenacious, persistent, loyal, determined.