The English adjective frivolous comes from a Latin word meaning “silly,” “empty,” or “trifling.” A back-formation from frivolous produced the lesser-known verb frivol, meaning “to do something unimportant,” “to waste time,” or “to squander.” Someone doomscrolling in line, rearranging pencils instead of working, or checking Facebook one more time is frivoling. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Frivol, a Back-Formed Verb From Frivolous”
The Latin word frivolous means silly, empty, trifling, sorry, worthless, pitiful, and of course that gives us the word frivolous in English. But what I didn’t realize until recently was that there’s also a verb form. It’s a back formation from frivolous, and it’s frivol, f-r-i-v-o-l.
To frivol means to do something unimportant or frivolous or to waste time or squander. Interesting.
So how would I say that I’m frivoling? What would be a frivol task? Exactly.
Well, you’re just maybe you’re doom scrolling on Twitter when you’re waiting in line or something like that. Right.
What’s today’s worst news? Let me see if I can beat that other story.
Oh, look, a train crash. Maybe that’s today’s worst news. Right.
That’s terrible. Yeah, or you’re just rearranging things on the table or, you know. Right.
You’re frivoling. Your own personal version of the deck chairs on the Titanic. Something like that.
Yeah, when you’re supposed to be working, but instead you’re reorganizing the pencils in the mug next to your computer. Yes, yes.
Or just going on Facebook one more time or something like that. Frivoling.
