N. discontinuity, disjunction, anacoluthon, interruption, break, fracture, flaw, fault, crack, cut, gap, solution of continuity, caesura, broken thread, parenthesis, episode, rhapsody, patchwork, intermission, alternation, dropping fire

V. be discontinuous, alternate, intermit, sputter, stop and start, hesitate, discontinue, pause, interrupt, intervene, break, break in upon, break off, interpose, break the thread, snap the thread, disconnect, dissever

Adj. discontinuous, unsuccessive, broken, interrupted, dicousu, disconnected, unconnected, discrete, disjunctive, fitful, spasmodic, desultory, intermitting, occasional, intermittent, alternate, recurrent

Adv. at intervals, by snatches, by jerks, by skips, by catches, by fits and starts, skippingly, per saltum, longo intervallo

Phr. like "angel visits few and far between"

N. irregularity, uncertainty, unpunctuality, fitfulness, capriciousness, ecrhythmus|

Adj. irregular, uncertain, unpunctual, capricious, desultory, fitful, flickering, rambling, rhapsodical, spasmodic, immethodical, unmethodical, variable

Adv. irregularly, by fits and starts, 1, simple change

N. changeableness, mutability, inconstancy, versatility, mobility, instability, unstable equilibrium, vacillation, fluctuation, vicissitude, alternation, restlessness, fidgets, disquiet, disquietude, inquietude, unrest, agitation, moon, proteus, chameleon, quicksilver, shifting sands, weathercock, harlequin, cynthia of the minute, april showers, wheel of fortune, transientness

V. fluctuate, vary, waver, flounder, flicker, flitter, flit, flutter, shift, shuffle, shake, totter, tremble, vacillate, wamble, turn and turn about, ring the changes, sway to and fro, shift to and fro, change and change about, waffle, blow with the wind (irresolute) 605, oscillate, vibrate between, two extremes, oscillate between, two extremes, alternate, have as many phases as the moon

Adj. changeable, changeful, changing, mutable, variable, checkered, ever changing, protean, proteiform|, versatile, unstaid, inconstant, unsteady, unstable, unfixed, unsettled, fluctuating, restless, agitated, erratic, fickle, irresolute, capricious, touch and go, inconsonant, fitful, spasmodic, vibratory, vagrant, wayward, desultory, afloat, alternating, alterable, plastic, mobile, transient, wavering

Adv. seesaw, off and on

Phr. "a rolling stone gathers no moss", pictra mossa non fa muschis, honores mutant mores, varium et mutabile semper femina

N. caprice, fancy, humor, whim, whimsy, whimsey, whimwham, crotchet, capriccio, quirk, freak, maggot, fad, vagary, prank, fit, flimflam, escapade, boutade, wild-goose chase, capriciousness, kink

V. be capricious, have a maggot in the brain, take it into one's head, strain at a gnat and swallow a camel, blow hot and cold, play fast and loose, play fantastic tricks, tourner casaque

Adj. capricious, erratic, eccentric, fitful, hysterical, full of whims, maggoty, inconsistent, fanciful, fantastic, whimsical, crotchety, kinky, particular, humorsome, freakish, skittish, wanton, wayward, contrary, captious, arbitrary, unconformable, penny wise and pound foolish, fickle, frivolous, sleeveless, giddy, volatile

Adv. by fits and starts, without rhyme or reason

Phr. nil fuit unquain sic inipar sibi, the deuce is in him