different between erratic vs giddy

English

Alternative forms

• erratick, erraticke, erratique (all obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin erraticus; compare Old French erratique.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???æt?k/
• Rhymes: -æt?k

Adjective

erratic (comparative more erratic, superlative most erratic)

1. unsteady, random; prone to unexpected changes; not consistent

   Henry has been getting erratic scores on his tests: 40% last week, but 98% this week.

2. Deviating from normal opinions or actions; eccentric; odd.

   erratic conduct

Antonyms

• consistent

Derived terms

• erratical
• erratically
• erraticness

Translations

Noun

erratic (plural erratics)

1. (geology) A rock moved from one location to another, usually by a glacier.
   • 2003, Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything, BCA 2003, p. 372:

     The term for a displaced boulder is an erratic, but in the nineteenth century the expression seemed to apply more often to the theories than to the rocks.

2. Anything that has erratic characteristics.

Synonyms

• (glaciers): dropstone

Translations

Anagrams

• Cartier, cartier, cirrate, rice rat

English

Etymology

From Middle English guidie, guydie, gydi (“possessed by a demon; crazy, insane; foolish; dizzy”), from Old English gidi?, gydi? (“possessed by a spirit or demon, mad, insane”), from Proto-Germanic *gud?gaz (“ghostly, spirited”, literally “possessed by a god or spirit”), equivalent to god +? -y.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??di/

• Rhymes: -?di

Adjective

giddy (comparative giddier, superlative giddiest)

1. Dizzy, feeling dizzy or unsteady and as if about to fall down.

2. Causing dizziness: causing dizziness or a feeling of unsteadiness.

3. Lightheartedly silly, or joyfully elated.
   • 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant Of Venice, Act III Scene 2

     Hearing applause and universal shout,

     Giddy in spirit, still gazing, in a doubt

     Whether those peals of praise be his or no;

4. (archaic) Frivolous, impulsive, inconsistent, changeable.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act V Scene 4

     In brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it, for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion.

   • 1784, William Cowper, Tirocinium; or, A Review of Schools

     Young heads are giddy and young hearts are warm,

     And make mistakes for manhood to reform.

Synonyms

• dizzy

Derived terms

• giddily
• giddiness
• giddisome
• my giddy aunt

Translations

See also

• vertiginous

Verb

giddy (third-person singular simple present giddies, present participle giddying, simple past and past participle giddied)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To make dizzy or unsteady.
2. To reel; to whirl.