dalliance
/ˈdalɪəns
/noun
1A casual romantic or sexual relationship: Jack was not averse to an occasional dalliance with a pretty girl [mass noun]: MPs have the opportunity for dalliance, as they are away from home for much of the week...
- Most of the film flips back and forth between Vera and Fred and their respective sexual and financial dalliances.
- As long as you respect your partner, occasional dalliances are not a big deal.
- Can Dr Ken save the day, or will his occasional sexual dalliance become the next victim of The Psycho Lover?
1.1A period of brief or casual involvement with something: Berkeley was my last dalliance with the education system...
- His personal life has pretty much overshadowed his music in recent years as dalliances with alcohol and drugs led to a stay in The Priory clinic.
- The band's R&B dalliances push the song 'n' the band forward from simple slash 'n' burn to a cocky swagger.
- Silly ghost stories are otherworldly dalliances, whereas Frankenstein projects dilemmas of coherence and comprehension that are a permanent challenge for narration.
Origin
Middle English (in the sense 'conversation'): from dally + -ance.