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whimseymore about whimsey

whimsey

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Whim  \Whim\,  n.  [Cf.  Icel.  hwima  to  wander  with  the  eyes,  vim 
  giddiness,  Norw.  kvima  to  whisk  or  flutter  about  to  trifle, 
  Dan.  vimse  to  skip,  whisk,  jump  from  one  thing  to  another, 
  dial.  Sw  hvimsa  to  be  unsteady,  dizzy,  W.  chwimio  to  move 
  briskly.] 
  1.  A  sudden  turn  or  start  of  the  mind;  a  temporary 
  eccentricity;  a  freak;  a  fancy;  a  capricious  notion;  a 
  humor;  a  caprice. 
 
  Let  every  man  enjoy  his  whim.  --Churchill. 
 
  2.  (Mining)  A  large  capstan  or  vertical  drum  turned  by  horse 
  power  or  steam  power,  for  raising  ore  or  water,  etc.,  from 
  mines,  or  for  other  purposes;  --  called  also  {whim  gin}, 
  and  {whimsey}. 
 
  {Whim  gin}  (Mining),  a  whim.  See  {Whim},  2. 
 
  {Whim  shaft}  (Mining),  a  shaft  through  which  ore,  water, 
  etc.,  is  raised  from  a  mine  by  means  of  a  whim. 
 
  Syn:  Freak;  caprice;  whimsey;  fancy. 
 
  Usage:  {Whim},  {Freak},  {Caprice}.  Freak  denotes  an 
  impulsive,  inconsiderate  change  of  mind,  as  by  a  child 
  or  a  lunatic.  Whim  is  a  mental  eccentricity  due  to 
  peculiar  processes  or  habits  of  thought.  Caprice  is 
  closely  allied  in  meaning  to  freak,  but  implies  more 
  definitely  a  quality  of  willfulness  or  wantonness. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Whimsey  \Whim"sey\,  Whimsy  \Whimsy\,  n.;  pl  {Whimseys}or 
  {Whimsies}.  [See  {Whim}.] 
  1.  A  whim;  a  freak;  a  capricious  notion,  a  fanciful  or  odd 
  conceit.  ``The  whimsies  of  poets  and  painters.''  --Ray. 
 
  Men's  folly,  whimsies,  and  inconstancy.  --Swift. 
 
  Mistaking  the  whimseys  of  a  feverish  brain  for  the 
  calm  revelation  of  truth.  --Bancroft. 
 
  2.  (Mining)  A  whim. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Whimsey  \Whim"sey\,  v.  t. 
  To  fill  with  whimseys,  or  whims;  to  make  fantastic;  to  craze. 
  [R.] 
 
  To  have  a  man's  brain  whimsied  with  his  wealth.  --J. 
  Fletcher. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  whimsey 
  n  1:  a  whimsical  idea;  "the  theatrical  notion  of  disguise  is 
  associated  with  disaster  in  his  stories"  [syn:  {notion}, 
  {whim},  {whimsy}] 
  2:  the  trait  of  acting  more  from  whim  or  caprice  than  from 
  reason  or  judgment  [syn:  {flightiness},  {arbitrariness},  {whimsicality}, 
  {whimsy},  {capriciousness}]




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