changeful

English

Etymology

From change +‎ -ful.

Adjective

changeful (comparative more changeful, superlative most changeful)

1. (rare) Changing frequently; very susceptible to change

   Synonyms: variable, fickle

   • c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], line 99:

     When we will tempt the frailty of our powers, presuming on their changeful potency.

   • 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “Leg and Arm. The Pequod, of Nantucket, Meets the Samuel Enderby, of London.”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 486:

     So, deprived of one leg, and the strange ship of course being altogether unsupplied with the kindly invention, Ahab now found himself abjectly reduced to a clumsy landsman again; hopelessly eyeing the uncertain changeful height he could hardly hope to attain.

Derived terms

• changefully
• changefulness
• unchangeful

Translations

changing frequently

• Bulgarian: непостоянен (bg) (nepostojanen), постоянно менящ се (postojanno menjašt se)
• Greek:

  Ancient: πολύτροπος (polútropos)

• Russian: изме́нчивый (ru) (izménčivyj), непостоя́нный (ru) (nepostojánnyj)
• Swedish: nyckfull (sv), ombytlig (sv)

References

• “changeful”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• “changeful”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.