volatile
easily evaporating, changing, or erupting
Root
- volare: fly, flight, fly off, or pass quickly into air
Other words with the volare root
- volley: a ball or shot sent through the air
Volatile keeps the fly-off image: vapor flies away, moods fly upward, situations can suddenly flare.
The negotiation became volatile after one careless accusation.
Volare means fly. In chemistry, volatile substances pass into vapor easily. In people or markets, the same image becomes sudden change: quick to rise, shift, or explode.