frivole

Forms

frivole (plural frivoles)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin frīvolus (“of little value, trifling, giddy”).^[2][3][4][5] Rey calls the Latin word of uncertain origin, perhaps linked with friō (“to crumble”), through the idea of something small and worthless.^[3] Littré cites Festus, who explained its neuter plural as cracked earthenware.^[6] Bloch and Wartburg date the borrowing to the 12th century.^[7]

Cognate with Old Occitan frevol, Italian frivolo and Spanish frívolo.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1246, in Gossuin de Metz's Image du monde, as a feminine plural noun for trifles; as an adjective it appears about 1265, in Brunetto Latini's Trésor.^[2][3][8]

Semantic evolution

The word kept the senses of the Latin.^[3] As an adjective it applied to things lacking seriousness (about 1265), to a person busy with trifles (1678, La Rochefoucauld) and to a fickle lover (1832).^[3][8] The adverb frivolement is recorded in 1384, and the noun frivolité before 1718.^[3]

Timeline

• 1246 – Gossuin de Metz uses it as a noun for trifles.^[2]
• c. 1265 – Brunetto Latini uses it as an adjective.^[8][3]
• 1384 – Frivolement appears.^[3]
• 1678 – La Rochefoucauld applies it to a person.^[8]
• Before 1718 – Frivolité appears.^[3]
• 1832 – It is used of a fickle person.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Frivolous, trivial, lacking seriousness and so importance: des conversations frivoles.^[9][2]
2. Of a person, concerned only with trifles, or treating serious things lightly.^[9][6]
3. Fickle in love: un mari frivole.^[9]

Word family

• frivolité
• frivolement

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 813b
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert