fickleadj.
/ˈfɪkl/, U.S. /ˈfɪk(ə)l/ a. False, deceitful, treacherous. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [adjective]
ficklea1000
hinderyeapc1000
swikelc1000
as right (also stiff, straight, crooked, etc.) as a ram's hornOE
fakenOE
swikefulc1100
frakelc1175
swikec1175
wrenchfulc1225
wielfulc1275
ginfulc1300
guileful13..
treacherousc1330
guilesomea1382
guilousc1384
enginousa1393
deceivant1393
treacherc1400
serpentinec1422
deceivousa1425
guilyc1430
beguilous1483
slapea1500
fallacious1509
treget1519
gaudya1529
beguileful1530
Spanish1530
juggling?1531
snakish1532
prestigious?1534
knack-hardy1549
pratting1570
fogging1585
snakya1586
abusive1595
faithless1597
faiterous1600
guiled1600
trompant1605
amusing1609
braida1616
dodging1625
Ulyssean1639
tricksome1648
knackish1660
hocus-pocus1668
bubbling1675
rusé1689
tricking1697
trickish1705
lurching1728
tricksy1766
trickful1775
tricky1786
slippy1828
shirky1847
dodgy1861
sidewinding1902
slithery1902
hyping1968
deceiteous-
the world > time > change > changeableness > [adjective]
slidinga900
wankleeOE
windyc1000
unsteadfastc1200
fleeting?c1225
loose?c1225
brotelc1315
unstablec1340
varyingc1340
variantc1374
motleyc1380
ungroundedc1380
muablea1393
passiblea1393
remuablea1393
changeablea1398
movablea1398
variablec1397
slidderya1400
ticklec1400
variantc1412
flitting1413
mutable?a1425
movingc1425
flaskisable1430
flickering1430
transmutablec1430
vertible1447
brittlea1450
ficklea1450
permutablec1450
unfirmc1450
uncertain1477
turnable1483
unsteadfast1483
vagrantc1522
inconstant1526
alterable?1531
stirringc1540
slippery1548
various1552
slid?1553
mutala1561
rolling1561
weathery1563
unconstant1568
interchangeable1574
fluctuant1575
stayless1575
transitive1575
voluble1575
changeling1577
queasy1579
desultory1581
huff-puff1582
unstaid1586
vagrant1586
changeful1590
floating1594
Protean1594
unstayed1594
swimming1596
anchorless1597
mobilec1600
ticklish1601
catching1603
labile1603
unrooted1604
quicksilvered1605
versatile1605
insubstantial1607
uncertain1609
brandling1611
rootless1611
squeasy1611
wind-changinga1616
insolid1618
ambulatory1625
versatilous1629
plastic1633
desultorious1637
unbottomed1641
fluid1642
fluent1648
yea-and-nay1648
versipellous1650
flexile1651
uncentred1652
variating1653
chequered1656
slideable1662
transchangeative1662
weathercock-like1663
flicketing1674
fluxa1677
lapsable1678
wanton1681
veering1684
upon the weathercock1702
contingent1703
unsettled?1726
fermentable1731
afloat1757
brickle1768
wavy1795
vagarious1798
unsettled1803
fitful1810
metamorphosical1811
undulating1815
tittupya1817
titubant1817
mutative1818
papier mâché1818
teetotum1819
vacillating1822
capricious1823
sensitive1828
quicksilvery1829
unengrafted1829
fluxionala1834
proteiform1833
liquid1835
tottlish1835
kaleidoscopic1846
versative1846
kaleidoscopical1858
tottery1861
choppy1865
variative1874
variational1879
wimbly-wambly1881
fluctuable1882
shifty1882
giveable1884
shifty1884
tippy1886
mutatory1890
upsettable1890
rocky1897
undulatory1897
streaky1898
tottly1905
tipply1906
up and down1907
inertialess1927
sometimey1946
rise-and-fall1950
switchable1961
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > unreliability > [adjective]
unsicker?c1225
uncertaina1382
unsadc1384
untristya1387
untrustya1387
unsurec1412
falliblec1425
slipperc1430
ficklea1450
frivol1488
slidder?a1500
casuala1535
slippery1548
slippy1548
failable1561
doubtful1562
lubricious1584
slope1587
queasy1589
unconfirmedc1592
nice1598
catching1603
loose1603
precary1606
ambiguous1612
treacherous1612
unsafe1615
unsureda1616
precarious1626
lubric1631
dubious1635
lubricous1646
unestablished1646
unfixed1654
unsecure?a1685
unreliable1810
unproven1836
untrustworthy1846
shady1848
wobbly1877
Kaffir1899
independable1921
dodgy1961
temperamental1962
a1000 Gloss. on Prov. xiv. 25 (Cott. Vesp. D. 6) Versipellis, ficol vel pretti.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 138 Fikele & sweokele reades.
a1240 Ureisun in Cott. Hom. 185 Cunfort on eorþe þet is fikel and fals.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2799 We hauen misdo mikel, Þat we ayen you haue be fikel.
c1325 Song Yesterday 30 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 134 Þis eorþeli ioie, þis worldly blis Is but a fykel fantasy.
c1400 Song Roland 147 ‘A! ffals man’ quod the kinge ‘Fekill is thy thought.’
c1425 Seven Sag. 985 (P.) With fykyl wordis and with false.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xlvi. l. 40 Kyng Crwdelx was so fekel and felle.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. X.viij Otherwyse theyr conuersacion shulde be fekyl to the people.
b. Of places: Treacherous, dangerous. Now Scottish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > [adjective] > insecure > treacherous
ficklea1398
unfaithfula1586
false1590
treacherous1612
tricksing1681
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xix. cxxix. 1382 Actus is a place þere bestes ben ofte ydryue, and is slider and fikel.
1883 M. Oliphant Ladies Lindores II. xvi. 41 It's a fickle corner in the dark..A wrong step..and there would be no help.
2. Changeable, changeful, inconstant, uncertain, unreliable:
a. of persons, their attributes, feelings, etc.; also often, with personification, of Fortune, Chance, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > changeableness > [adjective] > of persons
ficklea1275
mutablec1425
fleeting1553
rolling1561
unbottomed?1674
motley1755
mobile1778
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective]
unfastc888
unstathelfasteOE
unsteadfasta1200
fleeting?c1225
changeablea1275
ficklea1275
unstablec1290
waveringc1315
flickerc1325
loose in the haftc1325
motleyc1380
unsadc1384
variablea1387
variantc1386
ticklec1400
inconstant1402
flitting1413
brittle1420
plianta1425
mutablec1425
shittle1440
shittle-witted1448
moonishc1450
unconstant1483
unfirm1483
varying?a1500
pliablea1513
fluctuant1575
changeling1577
shittle-headed1580
cheverel1583
off and on1583
chameleon-like1589
changeful1590
limber1602
unsteady1604
ticklish1606
skittish1609
startling1619
labile1623
uncertaina1625
cheverelized1625
remuant1625
fluctuate1631
fluctuary1632
various1636
contrarious1643
epileptical1646
fluxilea1654
shittle-braineda1655
multivolent1656
totter-headed1662
on and off1668
self-inconsistent1678
weathercocka1680
whifflinga1680
versatile1682
veering1684
fast and loose1697
inconsistent1709
insteadfast1728
unfixing1810
unsteadied1814
chameleonic1821
labefact1874
ballastless1884
weathercocky1886
whiffle-minded1902
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > unreliability > [adjective] > of persons
slipperc1000
ficklea1275
untristya1387
flickering1430
untrusty1430
slidingc1435
unsurec1445
untraistc1485
unassure1531
slippery1555
untraisty1567
untrustful1569
unresponsable1619
uncanny1639
fair-weather1677
unresponsible1764
independable1802
unreliable1810
untrustworthy1846
undependable1860
incalculable1876
slithery1902
wonky1919
doubtful1925
a1275 Prov. Ælfred 355 in Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 125 For moni mon hauit fikil mod.
?1550 J. Bale Apol. agaynste Papyst Pref. 12 b I maruile What hath moued the fyckle heades of our doctours.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iii. v. 60 O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle . View more context for this quotation
1629 W. Prynne Church of Englands Old Antithesis 78 It makes the fickle, wauering, and vnconstant will of man, the very basis.
1663 A. Cowley Agriculture in Wks. (1710) II. 708 An impudent, fickle, and painted Harlot.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 233 When everlasting Fate shall yield To fickle Chance. View more context for this quotation
1783 W. Thomson in R. Watson & W. Thomson Hist. Reign Philip III vi. 416 Though sovereign princes..be naturally capricious and fickle in their attachments.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles vi. vi. 229 Versed in the fickle heart of man.
1861 J. G. Holland Lessons in Life iii. 44 Friends may prove false, and fortune fickle.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. iii. 85 The younger men are of a fickle mood.
b. of things, natural agents, etc.
ΚΠ
a1505 R. Henryson Test. Cresseid 550 in Poems (1981) 129 I..clam vpon the fickill quheill sa hie.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xii. i. 106 Persave of weir the fykkill ward onstabill.
1563 B. Googe Eglogs Epytaphes & Sonettes sig. F.iiiiv The surest Staffe, in fyckle Dayes.
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets cxxvi. sig. H3 O Thou my louely Boy who in thy power, Doest hould times fickle glasse. View more context for this quotation
1612 J. Davies Discouerie Causes Ireland 11 The Popes Donation, and the Irish Submissions, were but weake and fickle assurances.
1774 J. Beattie Minstrel: 2nd Bk. lv. 28 Fancy now no more Wantons on fickle pinion through the skies.
1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. i. 9 He who embarks on that fickle sea, requires to possess the skill of the pilot.
1835 A. Ure Philos. Manuf. 398 The fickle health of childhood.
a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) I. 234 Through shine and shower My fickle shallop dances.
1861 J. G. Holland Lessons in Life i. 12 The weather being very fickle.
3. As adv.; only in combination with participial adjectives.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > [adverb]
inconstantly1549
changeably1567
changingly1580
variably?1591
fickle1596
unsettledlyc1598
mutably1611
changefully1615
up and down1643
veeringly1847
varyinglyc1862
kaleidoscopically1866
shiftily1878
modificationally1908
variationally1961
1596 C. Fitzgeffry Sir Francis Drake sig. D5v Fortvne..stoode not on her fickle-rowling wheele.
1608 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 146 Our glory stands so fickle-founded thus.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
fickle-fancied adj.
ΚΠ
a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) i. 41 Those fickle-fancy'd men.
fickle-headed adj.
ΚΠ
1577 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1877) ii. vii. i. 168 The fickle headed tailors.
1661 E. Hickeringill Jamaica 97 Those fickle-headed Soldiers.
fickle-minded adj.
ΚΠ
a1600 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie (1617) vi. 280 Speaking of fickle-minded men.
fickle-mindedly adv.
ΚΠ
1875 W. D. Howells Foregone Concl. iii. 68 I've behaved rather fickle-mindedly.
b.
ficklewise adv.
ΚΠ
1877 S. Lanier Bee in Poems 9 And flew Most ficklewise about.
C2. † fickle-hammed adj. Obsolete ? weak in the hams.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of visible parts > [adjective] > disorders of leg
fickle-hammed1675
sprain-legged1721
gummy1740
camel-kneed1801
scissor leg1882
1675 London Gaz. No. 993/4 A Red Roan Nag about six, and fickle hammed.
fickle-tongue adj. given to falsehood.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > [adjective]
leasea900
liec975
false?c1225
unsoothfasta1300
untruefulc1380
trothlessa1393
fickle-tongue1393
truthlessa1522
lying1535
fabling1548
forging1593
mendacious1616
soothless1803
storytelling1839
unveracious1845
fabricatory1855
untruthful1858
falsidical1866
leasing1873
inveracious1885
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. iii. 6 Boþe fals and fauel and fykel-tonge lyere.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† ficklev.1
Obsolete.
intransitive. To flatter. Also to fickle with.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > flatter [verb (intransitive)]
fikea1225
flatter?c1225
ficklec1230
blandisha1340
smooth1340
glaver1380
softa1382
glozec1386
to hold (also bear) up oila1387
glothera1400
flaitec1430
smekec1440
love?a1500
flata1522
blanch1572
cog1583
to smooth it1583
smooth1587
collogue1602
to oil the tongue1607
sleek1607
wheedle1664
pepper1784
blarney1837
to pitch (the) woo1935
flannel1941
sweet-talk1956
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 45 Þe fikelere..put him preon i þe ehe þet he wið fikeleð.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 845 Þis was þo þe gode doȝter þat nolde vikeli noȝt, Ofte þing þat is ivikeled to worse ende is broȝt.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. xxvii. 1170 He [sc. an hound] is gyleful and deceyuable and so ofte he fikeleþ and fawneþ wiþ his tail on men..and biteþ hem sore if þey take non heede bakward.
1537 in State Papers Henry VIII (1834) II. 480 They goo aboute to fykkle with Iryshe men.
Derivatives
ˈfickling n. flattery.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > [noun]
fickling?c1225
flattering?c1225
oluhningc1225
glozec1290
glozing1297
losengery1303
blandishingc1305
blandingc1315
flatteryc1320
glotheringc1325
soothinga1400
honey word?1406
faginga1425
flatrisec1440
smekingc1440
blandishc1475
blandiment?1510
glavering1545
coggingc1555
good1563
milksop1577
court holy water1583
glavery1583
blandishment1591
lipsalve1591
court holy bread1592
flatter1593
colloguing1596
sooth1597
daub?1602
blandation1605
lullaby1611
court-water1616
butter1618
blandiloquy1623
oil1645
court-element1649
courtshipment1649
courtship1655
blandiloquence1656
court-creama1657
daubing1656
fleecha1700
Spanish money1699
cajole1719
whiting1721
palaver1733
butter boat1747
flummery1749
treacle1771
Spanish coin1785
blancmange1790
blarney1796
soft corn1814
whillywha1816
carney1818
buttering up1819
soft soap1821
flam1825
slaver1825
soft solder1836
soothing syrup1839
soft-soaping1840
plámás1853
sawder1854
soap1854
salve1859
taffy1878
plámásing1897
flannel1927
smarm1937
flannelling1945
sweet talk1945
schmear1950
smarming1950
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 166 To wenen þet hit were sikelunge [read fikelunge]. ȝef ha speke feire.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 44 Attri speche is..Bacbitunge. & fikelunge.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 30 Heo no kouþe of no fikelyng, and ne onswerede not so.
ˈfickling adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > [adjective]
ficklinga1240
glozing1297
blandingc1315
blandishingc1374
glaveringc1394
fleering?a1400
sleekedc1400
faginga1425
smoothc1450
flattering1484
cogging1542
flatterous1546
butterya1585
smooth-tongueda1593
oily1598
silken1598
slick-tongued1598
soothing1599
sleek1601
slick1606
blandiloquous1615
supellectile1615
colloguing1620
losengeous1632
oiled-tongued1632
daubing1655
blandiloquious1689
smooth-booted1706
palavering1764
pill-gilding1764
oily-tongued1788
buttering1789
sleeky1810
smooth-spoken1821
oleaginous1833
butteraceous1837
saponaceous1837
soft-soapy1849
soapy1854
blarneying1884
smarmy1924
sweet-talking1956
smoothie1959
smarming1970
blandiloquent-
a1240 Sawles Warde in Cott. Hom. 253 Of þeos fikelinde world.
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Titus) (1963) 87 Leuere me is hare wundes þen fikelinde [c1230 Corpus fikiende] cosses.
ˈfickler n. a flatterer.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > [noun] > flatterer
fickler?c1225
losenger1303
glothererc1325
flatterera1340
blander1340
flatter1340
glozera1420
fleecherc1425
fager1435
soother1553
smooth-boots1599
sleekstonea1610
blandisher1611
cogger1611
over-prizer1611
smoother1611
colloguer1631
dauber1642
pargetera1656
flattercap1681
whillywhaa1682
sweetener1728
proneur1809
carney1818
soft-soaper1839
soft-solderer1851
smooth-sayer1872
incenser1873
soft-mouth1881
blarneyer1882
flannel-mouth1882
oiler1883
jollier1896
smoodger1898
plámáser1919
sweet-talker1946
smarmy1957
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 68 Fikeleres beoð þreo cunnes.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
ficklev.2
/ˈfɪkl/, U.S. /ˈfɪk(ə)l/ dialect.
transitive.
a. To puzzle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > confuse, perplex, bewilder [verb (transitive)]
abobc1330
confusec1350
confoundc1374
cumbera1375
passc1384
maskerc1400
mopc1425
enose1430
manga1450
overmusec1460
perplex1477
maze1482
enmuse1502
ruffle?a1505
unsteady1532
entangle1540
duddle1548
intricate1548
distraught1579
distract1582
mizzle1583
moider1587
amuse1595
mist1598
bepuzzle1599
gravel1601
plunder1601
puzzle1603
intrigue1612
vexa1613
metagrobolize?a1616
befumea1618
fuddle1617
crucify1621
bumfiddlea1625
implicate1625
giddify1628
wilder1642
buzzlea1644
empuzzle1646
dunce1649
addle1652
meander1652
emberlucock1653
flounder1654
study1654
disorient1655
embarrass?1656
essome1660
embrangle1664
jumble1668
dunt1672
muse1673
clutter1685
emblustricate1693
fluster1720
disorientate1728
obfuscate1729
fickle1736
flustrate1797
unharmonize1797
mystify1806
maffle1811
boggle1835
unballast1836
stomber1841
throw1844
serpentine1850
unbalance1856
tickle1865
fog1872
bumfuzzle1878
wander1897
to put off1909
defeat1914
dither1919
befuddle1926
ungear1931
to screw up1941
1567 [implied in: J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 1 Adamant..yeeldeth or giueth place to nothing, wherefore the Greekes call it Fickle-force. (at fickle-force n.)].
1736 S. Pegge Alphabet of Kenticisms Fickle, to fickle a person in the head with this or that, to put it into his head; in a baddish sense.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary III. x. 219 She may come to fickle us a'.
1859 S. Smiles Self-help 49 Then other questions were put to ‘fickle’ him.
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b. (See quot. 1736 at sense a.)
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.a1000
v.1?c1225
v.21567