alchemy

n.

capricious

adj.

inclined to change one's mind impulsively; erratic, unpredictable

Syn: arbitrary, careless, effervescent, erratic, volatile

Ant: constant, dependable, sensible, steadfast

catalyst

n.

a person or thing that causes change

Syn: adjuvant, impetus, incendiary, incentive, stimulant

Ant: block, prevention, deterrent

eclectic

adj.

composed of elements drawn from various sources

Syn: assorted, broad, diverse, inclusive, multifarious

Ant: incomprehensive, narrow, particular, specific, unvaried

engender

v.

to produce, cause, or give rise to; to beget, procreate; to be produced or caused, come into existence

Syn: arouse, beget, breed, foment, generate, incite, propogate

Ant: destroy, finish, halt, kill

ephemeral

adj.

brief; fleeting

Syn: evanescent, fugacious, temporary, transient

Ant: enduring, interminable, permanent, perpetual

evanescent

adj.

tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing

Syn: brief, disappearing, fading, tenuous, evasive

Ant: permanent, constant

irascible

adj.

easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts

Syn: angry, choleric, fractious, passionate, petulant, touchy

Ant: cheerful, happy, peacable

levity

n.

fickleness; silliness; lightness

Syn: flightiness, capriciousness, changeability; amusement, mirth; buoyancy, airiness

Ant: responsibility, stability; gravity, seriousness; heaviness

malleable

adj.

capable of being shaped or formed; tractable; pliable

Syn: adaptable, compliant, flexible, submissive, changeable, versatile

Ant: firm, rigid, stiff, inflexible, intractable

mercurial

adj.

characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood; nimble, deft

Syn: flighty, temperamental, capricious, changeable, unpredictable; acute, dexterous

Ant: calm, tranquil, unperturbable; brittle, clumsy, stiff

oscillation

n.

the act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm; fluctuation

Syn: quivering, swaying, waving; doubt, faltering, misgiving

precipitate

v.

to cause or happen before anticipated or required

Syn: compel, engender, evoke, motivate, provoke

Ant: defer, hinder, impede, postpone

proselyte

n.

a convert

Syn: disciple, follower, neophyte

torque

n.

rotation, or a force that causes rotation

Syn: revolution, gyration

vacillate

v.

to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another; waver

Syn: alternate, fluctuate, hestitate

Ant: remain, stay, decide

variegated

adj.

multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color; diversified

Syn: assorted, changeable, diverse, motley, mixed, varied

volatile

adj.

readily changing to a vapor; changeable, fickle; explosive

Syn: capricious, effervescent, erratic, inconsistent, mercurial, temperamental, transient

Ant: calm, firm, stable, steadfast

waver

v.

to move to and fro; to sway; to be unsettled in opinion

Syn: change, deliberate, fluctuate, hestitate, vascillate