| 释义 |
frivolous, a.|ˈfrɪvələs|
Forms: 6 frivolus, fryvolous(e, (7 frivoulous), 6–7 frivelous, (6 fryvlous) 7 frivilous, 6– frivolous.
[f. L. frīvol-us + -ous. Cf. frivol a.]
1. Of little or no weight, value, or importance; paltry, trumpery; not worthy of serious attention; having no reasonable ground or purpose.
1549Bale Leland's N.Y. Gift D iv, We fynde for true hystoryes, most fryuolouse fables and lyes. 1578Timme Caluine on Gen. 25 It is too frivolous and vaine to expound this worde. 1624Ld. Kensington in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 172 In their frivolous delayes, and in the unreasonable conditions which they propounded. 1648Gage West Ind. xx. 169 His answers seeming frivolous. c1670Wood Life (O.H.S.) I. 398 The warden..did put the college to unnecessary charges, and very frivolous expences. 1770Junius' Lett. xxxix. 198 They voted his information frivolous. 1776Adam Smith W.N. i. xi. (1869) I. 184 The other frivolous ornaments of dress and furniture. 1828Scott F.M. Perth vii, The slight and frivolous complaints unnecessarily brought before him. 1871Dixon Tower III. xxv. 280 He was arrested on a frivolous charge.
b. Law. In pleading: Manifestly insufficient or futile.
1736in Swift's Lett. (1766) II. 249 The decree was affirmed most unanimously, the appeal adjudged frivolous. 1883Sir H. Cotton in Law Rep. 11 Q. Bench Div. 532 Unless the counter-claim is frivolous and unsubstantial.
2. Characterized by lack of seriousness, sense, or reverence; given to trifling, silly.
1560tr. Fisher's Treat. Prayer F ij, Eschewyng all vayne, friuolus, and vnfruitfull thoughtes. 1575G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 101 Frivolous boyishe grammer schole trickes. 1687Wood Life 21 Apr., The duke of Bucks is dead..many frivolous things extant—‘Bays’, a comedy. 1711Steele Spect. No. 156 ⁋6 From reading frivolous Books, and keeping as frivolous Company. 1783Johnson 18 Apr. in Boswell, He may be a frivolous man, and be so much occupied with petty pursuits, that he may not want friends. 1862M. E. Braddon Lady Audley ix. 63 Lady Audley amused herself in her own frivolous fashion.
absol.1836Emerson Nat., Idealism Wks. (Bohn) II. 160 The frivolous make themselves merry with the Ideal theory, as if its consequences were burlesque.
Hence ˈfrivolously adv., ˈfrivolousness.
1611Cotgr., Vainement, vainely, friuolously, to no purpose. 1624Donne Serm. (Alford) V. cxxx. 330 If Abraham had any such doubts, of a Frivolousness in so base a Seal. 1712Steele Spect. No. 448 ⁋2 The frivolously false ones. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) I. 119 To..judge of the weight or frivolousness of objections. 1812G. Chalmers Dom. Econ. Gt. Brit. 396 This argument..has been found to have, at least, the pertinacity of faction, if it have not the frivolousness of folly. 1885Ld. Blackburn in Law Rep. 10 Appeal Cases 223 The bankrupt being held to be acting frivolously and vexatiously. |