Fickly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Characterized by a capricious changeability or inconsistency, especially in affections or loyalties; prone to frequent alterations of mood or behavior; marking a tendency to be unreliable or unstable in decisions and preferences
2. Describing a nature that is often erratic or whimsical, frequently shifting one's opinions or feelings; demonstrating a lack of steadfastness or reliability; indicating a consistency of change in attachments or views
3. Reflecting an unpredictable and changeable disposition, particularly in personal attachments or emotions; showing a habitual inclination for variation or volatility; representing a quality of being inconstant or unsteady in commitment

Etymology: "Fickly" is simply "fickle" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" added, so it describes an action done in a fickle way: changing one's affections or loyalties on a whim. "Fickle" itself comes from the Middle English "fikel," meaning deceitful or treacherous, and it is related to "fickel" in Old English-era usage, a sense that carried a hint of trickery rather than mere inconstancy. The "-ly" ending turns an adjective into an adverb of manner, which is why the form sounds natural beside verbs like "behave" or "treat." Because "fickle" already names a changeable temperament, "fickly" is a less common and more informal construction, and dictionaries generally prefer "fickly" only in the sense of acting in a flighty, inconstant manner.